Wagner: Götterdämmerung; Tristan und Isolde; Die Walküre; Tannhäuser; Lohengrin (Excerpts)

Wagner: Götterdämmerung; Tristan und Isolde; Die Walküre; Tannhäuser; Lohengrin (Excerpts)

On this CD:

  1. Die Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods), opera, WWV 86d Siegfried's Funeral March
    Composed by Richard Wagner
    Performed by Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky

  2. Tristan und Isolde, opera, WWV 90 Prélude und Liebestod
    Composed by Richard Wagner
    Performed by Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky

  3. Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b The ride of the Valkyries
    Composed by Richard Wagner
    Performed by Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky

  4. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70 Overture
    Composed by Richard Wagner
    Performed by Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky

  5. Lohengrin, opera, WWV 75 Act 1. Prelude
    Composed by Richard Wagner
    Performed by Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky

  6. Lohengrin, opera, WWV 75 Act 3. Prelude
    Composed by Richard Wagner
    Performed by Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky

Wagner: Götterdämmerung; Tristan und Isolde; Die Walküre; Tannhäuser; Lohengrin (Excerpts),Richard Wagner,Yevgeny Mravinsky,Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra,Elektra / Wea,Classical,Classical Music,German/Austrian Romantic Opera,Miscellaneous Music,Opera


Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful collection and price!
  • Awesome collection!
  • Helicopters? Marines?
  • A great addition to my music collection
  • Quintessential Wagner
Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Wagner: Overture & Preludes
  2. The Best Of Wagner
  3. Wagner: The "Ring" Without Words
  4. Wagner without Words
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ASIN: B000009ON7
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

  1. The Valkyries: Ride Of The Valkyries
  2. Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Funeral March
  3. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III
  4. The Flying Dutchman: Overture
  5. The Flying Dutchman: Sailors' Chorus
  6. The Rheingold: Journey Down To Nibelheim
  7. The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg: Overture
  8. Tannhauser: Overture
  9. Tannhauser: Entry Of The Guests
  10. Tannhauser: Tannhauser's Pilgrimage
  11. Siegfried: Act III Orchestral Interlude
  12. Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
  13. Twilight Of The Gods: Finale
  14. The Rheingold: Entry Of The Gods Into Valhalla

Tracks:

  1. Lohengrin: Prelude To Act I
  2. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
  3. Parsifal: Prelude to Act I
  4. Parsifal: Good Friday Music
  5. Parsifal: Transformation Scene
  6. Tannhauser: Venusberg Music
  7. Tannhauser: Pilgrims Chorus
  8. The Mastersingers Of Nuremburg: Prelude To Act III
  9. The Rheingold: Vision Of Valhalla (Scene II Introduction)
  10. Siegfried Idyll
  11. Siegfried: Brunnhildes Awakening
  12. Tristan And Isolde: Prelude To Act III
  13. Tristan And Isolde: Death Of Isolde

Amazon.com

If you like your Wagner served up in bleeding chunks or if you're simply in a hurry to hear the tunes, then this compilation is for you. The performances, drawn from the Polygram (mainly Deutsche Grammophon) back catalog, are for the most part authoritative. They feature the likes of Herbert von Karajan, with the Berlin Philharmonic, and Karl Böhm, with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra (and chorus), in extracts from recordings of complete operas, and conductors Giuseppe Sinopoli, Otto Gerdes, and Antal Doráti in some of the more familiar overtures and preludes. Singing, without which it is impossible to get the full flavor of Wagner's work, is skirted whenever possible: this is an unapologetic tribute to Wagner the orchestral genius. At times the salesmanship is a little overblown--the glitzy packaging includes a cover shot of the helicopters from Apocalypse Now--and the sound, some of it from very good originals, seems to have been juiced with a little added digital reverb, resulting in an overall glassiness. The gaps between tracks are minimized, disco style, so there's no dead air, and the whole thing has an Entertainment Tonight feel to it. Were he around, Wagner would have screamed bloody murder, then happily taken his cut of the action. For today's on-the-go listener, this may well be the most practical way to enjoy Wagner's music, but we won't be happy until it motivates at least one newcomer to seek out a recording of a complete opera. Anyone who does that will find out what "apocalypse" really means. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful collection and price!.......2007-05-11

I found this to be a nice collection of favorites, especially to keep in the car and listen to. It is a variety of well known compilations. Although not encompassing, it is perfect as a review for driving, relaxing, and enjoyment. Plus, the price is right!

5 out of 5 stars Awesome collection!.......2007-01-10

This is a great collection of some of Wagner's most memorable songs for those of you who do not want to buy the whole opera's for some of his works.

4 out of 5 stars Helicopters? Marines?.......2006-12-05

Do those infotainment marketing mavens ever get it right? Talk about Hollywood disconnect! Not only are the helicopters irrelevant, but to quote from the gushy drivel on the jacket, "The gripping power of Richard Wagner's music was demonstrated with spectacular effect in...Apocalpse Now, when the "Ride of the Valkyries' became synonymous with the chilling journey of Marine 'Huey' helicopters into battle..."

Marine? Marine? Them Hueys in the movie was ARMY Air Cav, slick! "First of the ninth--air mobile." If you're going to dally down that primrose path, at least get it right.

Better yet, drop the choppers. Most people who listen to Wagner probably realize that quality of an artistic work has a mystically inverse relationship to the number of helicopters contained in it.

As for the music, it is good, but the operatic equivalent of sound bites, which may be just right for people who are new to Wagner or just can't take very much of him. Hmm...perfect for a helicopter ride, perhaps?

5 out of 5 stars A great addition to my music collection.......2006-07-20

This CD takes the place of all my other Wagner music. VERY well done. Somehow I didn't realize that there were two cds in the package--what a pleasant surprise! Of the two cds, I like the first one best, but they are both good. I listen to this cd daily on my way to work. Stirring! I am so glad that I purchased this. Some purists might have a problem with the fact that some of the selections are not there in their entirety. I have no problem with that though. I recommend this to anyone who loves Wagner.

5 out of 5 stars Quintessential Wagner.......2006-05-15

Okay, so I like Wagner. I LOVE "Ride Of The Valkyries". Do I want to go out and buy every single stinkin thing Wagner did? No. If you are a die-hard Wagner fan you probably will not think much of this collection.

But if you like Wagner and appreciate "Ride Of The Valkyries", and maybe require it in just a little more substance than what is included in "Apocolypse Now Redux", then this is what you want. The extra tracks are bonuses and are quite good. Meets my needs, presentation great, performance excellent. I recommend it for anyone that needs a Wagner fix.
Wagner: Overtures & Preludes
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A well-kept secret
  • Essential Wagner
  • Excellent Wagner from a surprising source ... or maybe not!
  • Go For Boult
  • Memorable and dramatic- A must have for Wagner fans
Wagner: Overtures & Preludes

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002S08
Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

  1. Tannher: Overture
  2. Tannher: Grand March
  3. Der Fliegende Holler: Overture
  4. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 1
  5. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 3
  6. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Overture
  7. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act 3
  8. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 1

Tracks:

  1. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 3
  2. Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1
  3. Parsifal: Act 1 Transformation scene
  4. Parsifal: Prelude to Act 3
  5. Parsifal: Good Friday Music
  6. Das Rheingold: Entrance of the Gods
  7. Die Walkure: Ride of the Walkyries
  8. Siegfried: Forest murmurs
  9. Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
  10. Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Funeral March

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A well-kept secret.......2007-05-18

Everyone wants to have a crack at the "bleeding chunks" eventually, and while I love the flashier Stoky and Furtwangler approach, I wouldn't want to be without the Boult. He's a great Wagnerian, strange as it may seem. Who could blame him for not wanting to go down in history merely as the finest Holstian? As long as this stays in print, Ormandy will still be considered the least sexy conductor. (I heard CBS researchers found an Ormandy fan once!)

5 out of 5 stars Essential Wagner.......2006-06-17

As a child, this set was my first experience of Wagner's music, and it made quite an impression on me. However, as I grew older and began to collect the full operas I felt I could surely do better than Adrian Boult and the British for a collection of the preludes, overtures, and orchestral music from the operas. I was wrong. I have yet to here any recordings that can match the power and intensity as demonstrated in these discs from Boult and the LSO (and LPO). The Meistersinger prelude alone is worth the price, and the only version of the prelude to Tristan which outdoes the one here is Bohm's live 1966 Tristan. The Solti, Karajan, and Klemperer highlight discs have their moments (and truthfully, I do prefer Solti and Karajan for the "Ring" highlights), but their contributions are greatest in the full operas, and overall, they simply can't muster the power and intensity that Boult brings to these preludes, overtures, etc.

Even if you have other compilations of Wagner's music in "bleeding chunks", I can assure you they don't come close to this one; and with two discs (the second containing mostly music from Parsifal and the "Ring") at 14 bucks, there is absolutely no excuse not to have this essential recording. So go ahead and buy this disc, never buy another Wagner compilation again, and with the money you save get started on the more important task at hand: the full operas.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Wagner from a surprising source ... or maybe not!.......2004-09-27

Does Sir Adrian Boult conjure up of images of Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughn Williams, but not Wagner? You're not alone! Nevertheless, this is a double CD set not to be missed! Many years ago, I was listening to a classical radio music station in NYC that was playing the music of Wagner. The performance was so good, that I wouldn't leave the radio until I found out the name of the conductor. When the announcer said the conductor was Sir Adrian Boult, I was quite surprised. I had recordings of English music from Sir Adrian on Angel/EMI, but I never associated that conductor with Wagner. Having been blessed with a friend who had knowledge of classical music way beyond his years, I gave him a call to find out more about the recording. He told me that, Boult had solid expertise in the area of Germanic music, but, in England, had been overshadowed in that repertoire by Otto Klemperer. He told me not to be surprised about Boult's very fine Wagner, it was an excellent recording to purchase and, indeed, search out Sir Adrian's wonderful performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (now available on Vanguard). Fast-forward many years and I find myself browsing through Amazon for a recording of Wagner's Overtures and Preludes. Like everyone else I know, I foolishly jettisoned my LPs in the 1990s and have been "back-filling" ever since. Well, I was able to obtain this splendid set for less than $7 per CD! There are a total of 18 selections covering most of Wagner's operas including five excerpts from the Ring Cycle. The performances are excellent coming from no less than three British orchestras, and the sound is top-shelf EMI. Sir Adrian's pacing is measured and his vision is broad and sensitive, highlighting the beauty and grandeur --rather than just the fire-- of this glorious music. I heartily recommend this two-CD set, and at this price, I think it's a steal.

5 out of 5 stars Go For Boult.......2003-07-08

Sir Adrian Boult is best known for his recordings of the British repertoire, and his performances, particularly of Holst's "The Planets" and Elgar's Symphonies and Orchestral Works, are legendary. But Boult was also an excellent conductor of Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner, and this 2-CD set collects the Overtures and Preludes of the latter German titan. These stereo recordings from the early to mid-1970s with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, and London Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras are truly first rate. EMI's set compares nicely in terms of price, quality and musical offerings with competing sets by DG (Bohm, Kubelik, et al) and Sony (Ormandy & Szell). You might have reservations about getting German music conducted by a Brit, but you really can't go wrong with Boult.

4 out of 5 stars Memorable and dramatic- A must have for Wagner fans.......2000-03-20

I bought this cd for the following reasons: 1 I'm a Wagner fan, 2 the cover looks exquisite and 3 I wanted to hear a "prelude" since it sounds fancy and never heard one. The result is great cd. The Tannhauser overture, Tristan and Isolde prelude and Lohengrin Prelude to act 3 are all very excellent. Excerpts from the Ring of the Nibelunge aren't as good as I had anticipated but are still enjoyable. The music speaks the tales of Wagner's operas. Just hear it, as slow and irksome as they maybe, these preludes make you feel the tragic love of Tristan and Isolde, the epic odyssey of Lohengrin and the holy, heavenly spirit in Parsifal as he discovers the Holy Grail. Buy this CD and you won't regret it. Except that one bit from Gotterdammerung, Siegfried's Funeral March. It does'nt quite have the feel of grand disaster as it did in John Boorman's film Excalibur. If you're hoping to find that version(which is better) stick with the Classics Go To The Movies Vol 2 cd. But all the other pieces on this CD are excellent. Go and buy this CD- now !
Story Of Wagner In Words And Music
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Story Of Wagner In Words And Music

    Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000001KD3
    Release Date: 1995-04-16

    Tracks:

    1. The Mastersingers: Prelude
    2. Lohengrin: Prelude To Act III
    3. Faust: Overture
    4. The Mastersingers: 'Awake!'
    5. The Mastersingers: 'Mad, All The World Is Mad'
    6. The Fairies: Overture
    7. Siegfried: Forest Murmurs
    8. The Mastersingers: Act III Quintet
    9. Rienzi: Overture
    10. The Flying Dutchman: Overture
    11. Tannhaeuser: Pilgrim's Chorus
    12. Tannhaeuser: Overture
    13. Gotterdammerung (Twilight Of The Gods): Siegfried's Rhine Journey
    14. Tannhaeuser: Song Of The Evening Star
    15. Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
    16. Tristan und Isolde: Love-Death
    17. Tannhaeuser: Venusberg Music
    18. Lohengrin: Prelude To Act I
    19. The Mastersingers: Prelude
    20. The Mastersingers: Prize Song
    21. The Mastersingers: Beckmesser And Sachs Duet In Act II
    22. The Valkyrie: The Ride Of The Valkyries
    23. Gotterdammerung: Siegfred's Rhine Journey
    24. Siegfried: Siegfried Idyll
    25. Parsifal: Good Friday Spell
    26. Gotterdammerung: Siegfred's Funeral Music
    27. Tannhaeuser: Overture
    28. Lohengrin: Preludes To Act I And III, And Bridal Chorus
    Wagner: Extracts from the operas
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • The best collection of Wagner excerpts from Furtwangler
    • This deserves 5 stars, plus!
    • Sublimity for the Ages
    • Wondrous Wagner
    Wagner: Extracts from the operas

    Manufacturer: EMI Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00064N8RM
    Release Date: 2005-01-11

    Tracks:

    1. Overture
    2. Prelude To Act 1
    3. Ride Of The Valkyries (Act 3)
    4. Prelude: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
    5. Siegfried's Funeral March (Act 3)
    6. Brunnhilde's Immolation (Act 3) - Kirsten Flagstad

    Tracks:

    1. Overture
    2. Prelude to Act 1 - Berliner Philharmoniker
    3. Liebestod (Death Of Isolde) - Berliner Philharmoniker
    4. Prelude To Act 1
    5. Prelude To Act 3
    6. Dance Of The Apprentices (Act 3)
    7. Prelude To Act 1 - Berliner Philharmoniker
    8. Good Friday Music (Act 3) - Berliner Philharmoniker

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars The best collection of Wagner excerpts from Furtwangler.......2005-12-16

    In the post-war era Furtwangler left us two Ring cycles from Italy (both very scrapy in execution), a classic Tristan from London, and a somewhat disappointing (to me, at least) Die Walkure from Vienna. Those represent the bulk of his Wagner conducting, since he didn't record many excerpts. This classic EMI set gathers together two hours wroth from 1938 to 1954. Other reviewers have extolled the 2004 remastering, which I compared to the original 1993 "References" release. I didn't hear a revelatory transformation, but it's helpful to have any sonic improvement, particularly in the muzzy early recordings from Berlin.

    The Gramophone declared that these excerpts validated Furtwangler's position as the greatest of all Wagner conductors. In their musical depth and emotional wisdom it's hard to disagree, although newcomers may find the tempos too braod, and the orchestral execution is never razor sharp--Furtwangler showed little interest in that.

    I think the touchstones would be the opening Tannhauser Over. from 1952, which is in the best sound, and the Tristan Prelude from 1938, which is in the worst. Both draw us into Furtwangler's hypnotic way with Wagner, weaving a complete emotional experience that overarches mere details and passing events. I find it easy to listen past the dated sound; these are readings to sink into for a lifetime. (My only reservation is that Flagstad's Immolation scene from Gotterdammerung, recorded in 1952 when she and Furtwangler made their famous Tristan, seems grand without much regard for specific words or emotions.)

    By now the Furtwangler canon has been scoured for more Wagner, and there is a live postwar collection in comparable sound from Testament that serves as the natural mate to these priceless studio recordings. Every scattered performance has been catalogued in the late John Ardoin's invaluable book, "The Furtwangler Record."

    5 out of 5 stars This deserves 5 stars, plus!.......2005-08-21

    Wilhelm Furtwangler's recordings of Wagner Overtures and Preludes, refurbished by EMI and released in January, 2005, is so good it deserves more than five stars! "How?" you may ask, "can recordings made in the late 1930s, late 1940s/early '50s sound this good?" EMI's engineers have worked marvels, both in restoring the sound so that it is nearly modern, and in equalizing volume levels so the listener doesn't have to adjust volume up and down between tracks, sometimes a problem with compilation discs when different recording locales and orchestras were used.

    The performances are all first rate: Furtwangler uses subtle liberties of tempo and nuance - his trademark as a conductor - to produce works of freshness and beauty. Three different orchestras are used: the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and Philharmonia:all sound uniformly excellent. Kirsten Flagstad sings Brunnhilde's Immolation scene with great intensity, and in this track, the Philharmonia is in no way inferior to either Berlin or Vienna Philharmonic.

    I had to keep reminding myself listening to Disc 1, Track 1,the TANNHAUSER Overture, that this was made in the era before stereo. From the first bars, this strikes me as very fresh and celebratory, and I'm not a huge Wagner fan: I prefer Overtures and Preludes over complete operas. My advice to anyone, even if you don't think you care for Wagner, is to invest in this: grab it before it goes out of circulation - for under $15.00 you can't go wrong.

    5 out of 5 stars Sublimity for the Ages.......2005-07-24

    In a strange way, one almost needs to have known these recordings in their previous incarnations to appreciate the miraculous transparency that EMI engineers have achieved in this latest transfer. Having long treasured these performances on LP and their first CD transfer (1993), I was stunned by the immediacy, power, and splendor of the sound. What a jaw-dropping revelation! Who ever dreamt of tracing so many more threads in these complex orchestral tapestries via these classic interpretations?

    As for the performances themselves, there are none better -- and there never will be. The only equally sublime Wagner excerpts are also in monophonic sound: check out the superb set of Stokowski's Wagner with the 1920s-40s Philadelphia Orchestra on Andante. Both conductors give us a kind of musicmaking that no one before or since has touched in this repertoire. And within the technical limitations of the times, the recordings admirably capture Wagner's sumptuous sound.

    No, the decibel level will not knock you out of your seat. If you want that kind of displacement, you must naturally seek a more recent recording. But grandeur is not merely a function of decibels, and on this recording and Stokowski's you will hear a level of rapport with Wagner's deepest impulses, a grandeur of conception, and a quality of orchestral execution that come through loud and clear as they do nowhere else. Remember, many musicians playing in these recordings studied under Wagner's contemporaries (indeed, in the earliest recordings of both conductors, we are probably even hearing a few people who were children or teenagers during Wagner's final years). As a result, these players absorbed the spirit of the age with their every formative breath. Through these recordings, they effortlessly project intangible qualities to which no later generations can ever lay claim.

    My own personal favorites here are the *Lohengrin* Prelude (boasting some of the most ethereal high-string sonorities ever recorded, courtesy of the Vienna Philharmonic -- a pure and perfect evocation of spiritual light descending from on high), the *Tristan* selections, Flagstad's grandly voiced Immolation Scene, and the incomparable *Parsifal* Prelude. *Parsifal* has never been my favorite Wagner opera, but its Prelude easily ranks among the chief glories of music. Never has it sounded more ravishing than it does here, with Furtwängler's patient and probing baton guiding Berlin's flawless execution (oh, those shimmering string tremolos!).

    These are just a few personal high points. In reality, nothing falls below superb here -- and the new transfers put us closer to the music than ever before (to mix in a bit of Richard Strauss, Salome has dropped another sonic veil; will the engineers find a way to make her drop still another in the next decade?!). If you want a direct route to the heart of Wagner, this EMI anthology and Andante's five-disc Stokowski set are the royal road to Wagner's kingdom of bliss. I urge you to make the journey.

    5 out of 5 stars Wondrous Wagner.......2005-06-09

    In this era of limited edition, out-of-print and rapidly disappearing classical CDs, sometimes it is better to wait and see instead of immediately buying a given title. Case in point, these famous Furtwangler recordings of Wagner extracts from the Operas, which have been available for years as a costly import in the EMI "References" series. I struggled off and on for some time about whether or not to buy it, knowing that these are among the very best Wagner performances ever committed to disc (despite their mono sound), but not wanting to pay an arm and a leg for them either. Well now with this inexpensively priced reissue in EMI's "Historical" Series, I can get the best of both worlds. Furtwangler's renditions, made with both the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonics between 1949 and 1954, are absolutely fantastic. This is the conductor at his very best, and there are few rivals in this material, even in stereo. In particular, the Tannhauser Overture, Lohengrin Prelude, and Tristan and Parsifal selections are magical. For price and performance, this CD is without peer.
    Wagner: Overture & Preludes
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Excellent
    • The Only Truly Memorable Tracks On This 2 Disc Album Are Jochum's Parsifal Pieces
    • A Thing of Beauty
    • It's OK
    • Falls short of being great.
    Wagner: Overture & Preludes

    Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
    ProductGroup: Music
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    1. Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection
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    ASIN: B000001GLB
    Release Date: 1995-02-14

    Tracks:

    1. Rienzi: Overture
    2. Overture
    3. Overture
    4. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act I
    5. Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III
    6. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act I
    7. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act III
    8. Die Walkure: The Ride of the Valkyries

    Tracks:

    1. TRISTAN & ISOLDE - Prelude to Act I
    2. TRISTAN & ISOLDE - Introduction to Act III (Massig Langsam)
    3. TRISTAN & ISOLDE - Liebestodt
    4. SIEGFRIED - Siegfried-Idyll
    5. GOTTERDAMMERUNG - Orchestral Interlude: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
    6. PARSIFAL
    7. PARSIFAL - Good Friday Music

    Amazon.com

    This is a dazzling collection of nonvocal excerpts from Wagner's operas, from the peace and loveliness of Rafael Kubelik's Siegfried Idyll to the passionate, disturbed Prelude to the first act of Tristan, led by Karl Bohm, and the wild Ride of the Valkyries, with Herbert von Karajan in a particularly rambunctious mood. Other highlights in the two and a half hours of music are transcendent readings of two Parsifal excerpts by Eugen Jochum and the Bavarian Radio Orchestra and a Flying Dutchman set. But couldn't DG have tried to include some information about anything in their teeny paper insert? --Robert Levine

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2007-02-13

    I grew up listening to all kinds of music. I must say that listiening to this CD is a wonderful change to today's music. It is relaxing and soothing.

    3 out of 5 stars The Only Truly Memorable Tracks On This 2 Disc Album Are Jochum's Parsifal Pieces.......2006-11-06

    Many reviewers are stating that this is some sort of great introduction to Wagner, when I think they are not aware of many other terrific orchestral Wagner CDs. EMI has recently released an outstanding CD by Karajan of various Wagner preludes and overtures from the non "Ring" operas. That CD is part of EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" catalogue and it's also available in the "Karajan Collection". Two different pressings, exact same thing.

    To get some juicy "Ring" selections, you should investigate George Szell's oustanding CD on Sony Essential Classics which is uniquely captivating as far as orchestral excerpts from the Ring operas go.

    Getting back to this DG Double, here is my rundown of all the tracks. The Rienzi Overture is done well by Karl Bohm but it's nothing remarkable. The Flying Duthchman also conducted by Bohm is played with gusto, pretty good. The Tannhauser Overture is an extremely dull run-through by Otto Gerdes, what a nightmare! Listen to Solti instead to get the full power of this terrific piece! The Lohengrin preludes by Kubelik lack the dreamy mysticism and rich power of Karajan's versions on EMI. The preludes to Die Meistersinger are played by Bohm and Jochum, Bohm is too relaxed and slow in the prelude to Act 1 but Jochum finds more life in the prelude to act 3. The ultra-famous "Ride of the Valkyries" is played by Karajan, an excerpt from his complete set of the Ring and yes the soprano soloists are on display here. It's a good account but hardly matches the excitement of Solti's version from his complete Ring recording.

    The second CD opens up with powerful excerpts from Tristan and Isolde played by Bohm, the prelude and Act 3 intro are taken from his famous Bayreuth set with Birgit Nilsson. Nilsson however is not represented in the final Liebestod, instead a later, not very passionate Bohm recording is tacked on. The Siegfried Idyll is conducted by Kubelik and is not very memorable, certainly lacking the romantic abandon of the famous Karajan versions. Siegfried's Rhine Journey from Gotterdammerung is led by Karajan and sounds great.

    Finally we get to the best part of this 2CD package, Eugen Jochum's performances of the Prelude and Good Friday Music from Wagner's final masterpiece, Parsifal. Both sound highly involved and deeply spiritual, the sound is great for something that was recorded way back in 1957. The brass get a bit edgy but it's not much of a worry, the readings are exceptional.

    If you're a Wagner newbie, this 2CD set might satisfy you but I recommend you go and buy that EMI Karajan CD and the Ring excerpts by Szell, listen to those and you'll be well on your way to tackling a full opera. The most accessible opera to start with is Lohengrin.

    4 out of 5 stars A Thing of Beauty.......2006-06-17

    I am not overly fond of opera but there are exceptions. This album is such an exception. I suppose that is because there is little to be heard in the way of singing on it. I like it for the instrumental passages and they are wonderful.

    As the title suggests, these are primarily overtures and preludes. They are not as bombastic as Wagner is wont to be but they are very strong. They are evocative of beauty and majesty. It is good orchestral music.

    The performances included are all from Germanic orchestras. This music is a part of the culture and it is well done. If I have one complaint, it is a minor one. The pianissimo passages are sometimes so soft as to not be present. They are...understated in the extreme.

    All in all, this is a quality recording capable of producing hours of enjoyment from its two disks.

    4 out of 5 stars It's OK.......2006-03-20

    I judge this CD for it's sound quality - very good. The Wagner's music it's not really my type of music, therefore I can't say it's a poor CD. If the music is just OK is not the CD's fault. Simply my taste doesn't match Wagner's music.

    3 out of 5 stars Falls short of being great........2006-02-01

    I'm surprised that all of the other reviewers neglected to mention the shortcomings of this set. Without Siegfried's Funeral March from Die Gotterdammerung and coupled with the fact that the liner notes stink, this is well deserving of 2 stars, but I was generous. Get the EMI set "Orchestral Music" with Szell conducting which has everything that this collection has plus Siegfried's Funeral March, good liner notes and extra selections.

    WAGNER: The Complete Overtures and Orchestral Music from the Operas
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      WAGNER: The Complete Overtures and Orchestral Music from the Operas
      Yuri Simonov , Francesco D'Avalos , and London Philharmonia Orchestra
      Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B00005MLXT
      Release Date: 2001-06-12
      Birgit Nilsson Sings Richard Wagner & Richard Strauss
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • The whole career of one of the greatest singers of all time
      • Birgit Sings Like Sweetness
      • A Document In The Grand Career Of Birgit Nilsson (1918-2005)
      • Great
      Birgit Nilsson Sings Richard Wagner & Richard Strauss

      Manufacturer: Gala
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      Similar Items:
      1. Birgit Nilsson: Opera Arias
      2. Nilsson Sings Verdi
      3. Or sai chi l'onore: Opernarien von Mozart, Weber, Wagner, Strauss
      4. Wagner: Opera Arias & Duets
      5. Prima Voce: Flagstad

      ASIN: B000001XNS
      Release Date: 2000-06-06

      Tracks:

      1. Ariadne auf Naxos: Es Ist alles vergebens - Es gibt ein Reich
      2. Salome: Es ist kein Laut zu vernehmen
      3. Salome: Ah! du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund kussen lassen, Jochanaan
      4. Salome: Sie ist ein Ungeheuer, deine Tochter
      5. Salome: Ah! Ich habe deinen Mund gekusst, Jochanaan
      6. Elektra: Was willst du, Fremder Mensch?
      7. Die Fau Ohne Schatten: Es dunkelt, dass ich nicht sehe zur Arbeit
      8. Die Fau Ohne Schatten: Es gibt derer, Die bleiben immer gelassen Abtu ich von meinem Leibe die Kinder
      9. Die Fau Ohne Schatten: Die Weib ist irre - Barak, ich hab es nicht getan
      10. Tannhauser: Dich, teure Halle
      11. Lohengrin: Euch Luften, die mein Klagen
      12. Lohengrin: Elsa!-Wer Ruft?
      13. Lohengrin: Ortrud, wo bist du?

      Tracks:

      1. Tristan und Isolde: Horst du sie noch?
      2. Tristan und Isolde: Mild und leise wie er lachelt
      3. Die Walkure: Schlafst du, Gast?
      4. Die Walkure: Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond
      5. Die Walkure: De bist der Lenz
      6. Die Walkure: O susseste Wonne! Seligstes Weib!
      7. Die Walkure: Siegmund heiss ich und Siegmund bin ich!
      8. Siegfried: Ewig war ich, ewig bin ich
      9. Gotterdammerung: Schweigt eures Jammers jauchzenden Schwall
      10. Gotterdammerung: Starke Scheite, Schichtet mir dort

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars The whole career of one of the greatest singers of all time.......2007-01-14

      I could nor beleive my eyes when I saw the price of this recording. It covers the whole career of the greatest Wagner and Strauss singer in the last half of the 20th Century. I think the whole performance of Ariadne of Naxos allurs in the archives of the Swedish Broadcasting company - a release, please!
      When the news arrived that La Nilsson hade died in her home, surrounded by family members and near friends, on Christmas Day 2005 (kidneys not functioning, and no more dialysis possible) - we at once underrstand her uniquiness - there was nobody there to take over the helm and shield....It is quite wonderful that this eextensive compilation was published just recently. It is a very worthy portrait of a blessed singer!

      5 out of 5 stars Birgit Sings Like Sweetness.......2007-01-08

      This is the first time I had heard Birgit Nilsson sing. The CD was great. However, I did have to blast the music because it is the original recording on the CD. Besides the quality it is worth purchasing if you want to hear one of the best. Her voice is clear and sweet, and welcoming to the ears.

      5 out of 5 stars A Document In The Grand Career Of Birgit Nilsson (1918-2005).......2006-03-23

      The great soprano from Sweden, Birgit Nilsson, once contemplated suicide when she met with dismal reviews in her first perfomrance as Agathe from Weber's Die Freitschutz, for she was inexperienced and fresh out of the farm she grew up in. She went on to become the greatest dramatic soprano of all time, and for me, she is an even more thrilling and masterful soprano than the overrated Maria Callas. Birgit Nilsson died of unknown causes in her hometown of Sweden on Christmas of '05 only months ago. Her huge, steely, bright, metallic voice was reportedly capable of breaking glass and stone. This album covers many years in her career. Her Ariadne is not well known and it's captured in a young voice (50's) and she is in phenomenal shape. The dramatic heft of the role is suited to her voice. Wagner was her specialty of course and here we have slices of her Elisabeth from Tannhauser. She also sang Venus. Isolde was another great role of hers (the one she debuted at the Met) and Brunhilde is of course her best role. Singing Strauss is no piece of cake but when we listen to her Salome and Elektra and Dryer's Wife from Die Frau we are hearing a woman who, despite age, is singing with strength and vigor. She gets into character each time and she sings beautifully. All fans of La Nilsson must get this one.

      5 out of 5 stars Great.......2003-08-20

      This is a very good CD for people who follow Birgit Nilsson's development. It contains live performances from 1949 (Ariadne auf Naxos - Nilsson sang Ariadne!!) to 1977 (Dyer's Wife in Die Frau Ohne Schatten). You can see her development from young to old over close to 30 years. For someone like me who have many of Birgit Nilsson's commercial recordings, this is a great CD too because it allows me to compare her 'live' performances with the studio recordings. It also enables me to see how her voice developed over the years. For instance, her voice grew in warm as she progressed in her career. By 1977, her voice had lost some ease - you can tell that she has to sing with more effort but her top register is still amazing, the gleam is still there even if it is more effortful to produce (when I say effortful I mean by young Birgit Nilsson standards - if you compare with other singers, she still sings effortlessly). Imagine - by 1977, she was 59 and she still puts singers singers half her age at 30 to shame. A very interesting CD in very mono sound. 5 stars for Nilsson's superb performances (her vocalism never fails to amaze me), for a fantastic variety of excerpts, for very mono sound, for the historical importance of this CD and for the incredible bargain price ... for 2 CDs.

      If you are a 'historical' freak, buy this. If you are a Birgit Nilsson freak, buy this. If you are an opera freak, buy this. Even if you are not a freak, buy this!!
      Wagner: Orchestral Music
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • The ultimate Wagner orchestral music
      • Magical
      • 5 stars for Klemp and Wagner!
      • Excellent
      • "Mistah Klemps" is a Winner, Here!
      Wagner: Orchestral Music
      Richard Wagner , Otto Klemperer , and Philharmonia Orchestra
      Manufacturer: EMI Classics
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      Similar Items:
      1. Wagner: Orchestral Music
      2. Wagner: Extracts from the operas
      3. EMI Great Recordings of Century - Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4/Klemperer
      4. Beethoven: Fidelio
      5. Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

      ASIN: B00006I0AU
      Release Date: 2002-09-17

      Tracks:

      1. Overture
      2. Overture
      3. Act.3/Prelude
      4. Act.1/Prelude
      5. Act.3/Prelude
      6. Prelude
      7. Act.3: Dance Of The Apprentices & Entry Of The Masters
      8. Act.1/Prelude

      Tracks:

      1. Overture
      2. Scene 4: Entry Of The Gods Into Valhalla
      3. Act.3: Ride Of The Valkyries
      4. Siegfried-Idyll
      5. Act.2: Forest Murmurs
      6. Interlude: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
      7. Act.3: Siegfried's Funeral March
      8. Prelude

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars The ultimate Wagner orchestral music.......2006-02-05

      I have these CDs for almost 15 years before they became a 2-CD set and still play them regularly. Got to know Wagner from the classical Furtwangler cycle, for many the best Wagner music ever recorded. Although Furtwangler is exceptional I do not think that it can surpass these accounts of Klemperer's Wagner. The sound of my CDs is not that great (something that probably has been fixed in these CDs) but the music is illumining in every instance. If you listen to this Tannhuaser you will understand what I am talking about. The Philharmonia Orchestra under Klemperer works miracles as always. A must have for every music-lover, even if you hate Wagner.

      5 out of 5 stars Magical.......2005-03-15

      I've loved and cherished these performances for nearly 35 years. Much has been said about Wagner's merits (or lack of them) for over a century and a half. When the music is played as Klemperer and his orchestra play it here, there's little doubt as to why The Master had such an enormous impact on so many in his time.

      Just sample the Entry of the God's into Valhalla or Siegfried's Funeral March or the incandescent Prelude to Parsifal. They're among the most sublime, noble, and epic recordings of anything you'll ever hear. Rather sad that within the vast bulk of the recent film version of The Lord of the Rings there's not a single moment that equals these three short pieces. What's the point in all that we create these days if we can't plumb a depth now and then?

      5 out of 5 stars 5 stars for Klemp and Wagner!.......2004-12-16

      This set is indispensible for any Wagnerite or Klemperite! It contains glorious playing of the finest calibre, with much weight, energy and beauty.

      A definite in anyone's collection.

      5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2004-08-11

      There is absolutely nothing wrong with Klemperer's interpretation of this music and, for the most part, the playing of the orchestra. However, when performing to such a high standard, the playing of the Philharmonia Orchestra should be seamless - as it frequently is. But there is alarming sloppiness on exposed wind entrances sometimes and even disunity on such exits, which make this wind-player's ears cringe.
      Other than that, I joyfully recommend this recording along with James Levine's MET "Wagner Orchestral music" and "Wagner Overtures and Preludes", which have much of the same music in modern sound and with spotless technique in the orchestra. A comparison between the two interpretations is worthy; Klemperer's approach is spacious a deep, while Levine, though calling for similar tempi in many places, leans tremendously forward.
      Summary: some inexcusable blurbs in the winds, but more than worth the price of admission overall.

      5 out of 5 stars "Mistah Klemps" is a Winner, Here!.......2004-04-03

      As many others, I normally do not care for Wagnerian "bleeding chunks", but when performed as wonderfully as in these fabulous performances, I can more than merely accept them. To pick out some examples, the Meistersinger Prelude is taken surely at the broadest pace I have ever heard, but there is a lightness of touch and sunniness to the interpretation that is absolutely irresistable. Teh Tannhaeuser Overture is overwhelmingly majestic in the Pilgrims' Chorus and volatile in the Venusberg sections. Siegfried goes off on a surprisingly swift Rhine Journey, and the Funeral March has the kind of cataclismic force that Knappertsbusch brought to his famous 1951 Bayreuth performance. The Siegfried Idyll is performed in its original chamber group version, and has more charm than any other I have heard. And the Tristan Prelude and Liebestod has an urgency and sheer erotic impulse that not even Furtwaengler surpassed. These wonderful renditions make one regret that Big Otto never recorded any of the later Wagner Operas complete.
      Victor Recordings, Vol. 1 (1903-1909)
      Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
      • Marston Does it Again - and Again
      • terrible sound quality
      • An excellent preservation of a remarkable voice.
      Victor Recordings, Vol. 1 (1903-1909)

      Manufacturer: Marston
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B000004BOE
      Release Date: 1997-10-14

      Tracks:

      1. Dich, teure Halle
      2. Ho-jo-to-ho
      3. O patria mia
      4. Du bist die Ruh'
      5. O patria mia
      6. Einsam in truben Tagen
      7. Der Nussbaum
      8. Aus meinen grossen Schmerzen
      9. Liebchen ist da!
      10. Ave Maria
      11. Einsam in truben Tagen
      12. Ho-jo-to-ho
      13. Ave Maria
      14. Erlkonig
      15. Verborgene Wunden
      16. Like The Rose Bud
      17. O patria mia
      18. Allmacht'ge Jungfrau
      19. Dich, teure Halle
      20. Mild und leise
      21. Inflammatus et accensus

      Tracks:

      1. Widmung
      2. Standchen
      3. How Much I Love You
      4. The Year's At The Spring
      5. Standchen
      6. Gretchen am Spinnrade
      7. Ritorna Vincitor
      8. Traft ihr das Schiff
      9. Selig, wie die Sonne, Take 1
      10. Selig, wie die Sonne, Take 2
      11. Voi lo sapete
      12. Irish Folk Song
      13. Ich weiss Euch einen lieben Schatz
      14. War es so schmahlich?
      15. Fort denn eile
      16. Dein Werk
      17. Jochanaan, ich bin verliebt
      18. Fliegt heim, ihr Raben
      19. Ewig war ich
      20. Fu la sorte...Alla pompa
      21. La fatal pietra...O terra addio

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Marston Does it Again - and Again.......2002-03-13

      Ward Marston has developed an amazing ability to bring old recordings back to life. The Gadski collections - there are two of them on his label - are amazing preservations of one of the great but neglected dramatic sopranos of the first 50 years of the 20th century. Listeners brought up on modern sound will have trouble with the surface noise; but learn to listen beyond it. Nobody sings like this today.

      1 out of 5 stars terrible sound quality.......2002-01-05

      Although this CD has its place as a historic recording of Johanna Gadski, the sound quality is so terrible it is practically impossible to even evaluate Gadski's voice. If you buy this CD, do it only to have a recording of hers in your collection. DO NOT buy this CD for the great repertoire on it. It is not something you will listen to for enjoyment when wanting to hear beautiful music.

      5 out of 5 stars An excellent preservation of a remarkable voice........1998-09-23

      Here is the "Golden Age" dramatic soprano, captured at her best in excerpts from the German and Italian operas in which she excelled, with some truly exquisite recordings of songs thrown in for good measure. This long-neglected artist has finally achieved the recognition she has so long-since deserved.
      The Wagner Collection
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The Wagner Collection

        Manufacturer: Delos Records
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        All Works by WagnerAll Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B00000071L
        Release Date: 1997-06-17

        Tracks:

        1. The Flying Dutchman: Overture
        2. The Flying Dutchman: Prelude
        3. The Flying Dutchman: Brangane's Warning
        4. The Flying Dutchman: Prelude To Act III
        5. The Flying Dutchman: Love And Death
        6. Gotterdammerung: Dawn
        7. Gotterdammerung: Siegried's Rhine Journey
        8. Siegfried's Death
        9. Funeral Music
        10. Final Scene
        11. Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude Prelude To Act III
        12. Dance Of The Apprentices
        13. Procession Of The Mastersingers

        Tracks:

        1. Das Rheingold Lohengrin: Entry Of The Gods Into Valhalla
        2. Das Rheingold Lohengrin: Prelude To Act I
        3. Elsa's Dream
        4. Prelude To Act III
        5. Tannhauser: Overture
        6. Venusberg Music
        7. Siegfried: Forrest Murmurs
        8. Die Walkure: Wotan's Farewell And Magic Fire Music

        Meditation Music:

        1. Wagner: Overtures & Preludes
        2. Wagner & Strauss
        3. Wolf-Ferrari - Sly / Carreras, Milnes, Cantarero
        4. A Night at the Operetta
        5. Aarre Merikanto: Juha [Box set]
        6. Alban Berg: Wozzeck, Op 7
        7. Arias from "Boris Godunov" and Other Operas
        8. Atlas: An Opera in 3 Parts [Soundtrack]
        9. Beethoven: Leonore (Original Version of Fidelio)
        10. Bellini: I Puritani

        Meditation Music

        meditation music

        Meditation Music

        Signals

        Bozay plays Bozay

        Bassoon with a View

        Music: Trip Do Brasil, Vol. 2: Still Mixing Brazilian Vibes

        Best of Linda Jo Rizzo [Import]

        Best of Disco

        Beica

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        Best of My Love [Import]

        Byrdmaniax [Import] [Limited Edition]

        Be-Bop Ballads and Blues

        Amadaduzo: Exotic Voices & Rhythms Of Black Africa

        Bang or Ball [Clean]

        I Smell Catfish

        Nothin' But the Truth!