Search - Antonio Pappano, Covent G Orch. of the Royal Opera House, Plácido Domingo :: Wagner: The Ring; Tristan und Isolde (Scenes and Arias)

Magnificent singing and playing in these opera cutouts

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 10/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not being naturally drawn to either home listening of opera or Wagner over almost four decades collecting recordings -- even though two Amazon friends have done their best to convert me -- I finally arrived at an age where I wanted to dabble a bit more in Wagner's sound world, especially his operatic selections. I've owned a coupld two-CD sets of highlights from the Ring and similar highlights from Meistersinger, with mixed results. All the sets were good (Bohm's Philips Ring and Jochum's DG Meistersinger) but I couldn't stay involved. I could never sit through a complete Wagner opera even though I've played a handful at home and watched a complete PBS production of the Ring on television. I wanted to acquire some of Wagner's more famous selections, several of which are in this coupling from previously released material.



This EMI twofer from last year features Placido Domingo, Natalie Dessay, Deborah Voigt, Violeta Urmana, the Covent Garden Orchestra and conductor Antonio Pappano in love duets from Siegfried and Tristan as well as several scenes from Siegfried and Gotterdamerung. The love duets between Domingo and Voight were released previously on a CD of that name and received magnificently good reviews from Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine and Fanfare, all of which highlighted different parts of the production. When one loved the latter day heldentenor Domingo's work, another fell for the love duets (the Tristan selection from act 2 features Wagner's orchestral ending), and still another feted the orchestral playing and imaginative leadership from Pappano.



All parts of this production are worthwhile, the singing is generally excellent, Domingo sounds great even though past his prime, and the English players do their best imitation of Germans in the pit. It's remarkable what a collection this group of non-Germans has delivered. While the first CD covers love duets, the second highlights several of the more famous scenes from the Ring sans Die Walkure. I wasn't expecting such committed playing and singing from this international cast but there it is, right in my living room in front of me any time I want it.



If you, like me, eschew Wagner opera because of its length and inconsistency, try this set and see what you think. The Tristan scene is among the most romantic music ever penned and the Siegfriend scene isn't far behind. The second disk music is far more dramatic, encompassing Siegfried's travails and the dramatic finale of the Ring cycle. Thiis is a way to vest in Wagner's creations with spending all night with them, at a price that is modest by any standard. The sound is excellent on these 1999 & 2000 productions and, while there is no score included, the brief notes include an overview of the action. While you may not be able to read what's going on, the music is so demonstrative and resolutely performed you'll have no trouble getting it. A powerful set of Wagner scenes and arias, then, especially for those that may not be totally in love with same."