Best Soprano Voices
Yet only a bit more than a generation ago, the possibilities inherent in the long-playing record inspired John Culshaw, a young producer for Decca, to attempt the most ambitious recording project ever contemplated up to that time--a complete studio recording of the Ring . The care lavished on the capture of the music was unmatched at the time of the recording, and still leaves this as one of the best sounding Rings even today, when the oldest part ( Rheingold ) has reached its 40th anniversary.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Solti Ring is the best recording of the Ring cycle."
"And, to add to that, the world is sorely lackiing of hochdramatische sopranos, true heldentenors, and great bass-baritones to sing the parts of the cycle's most difficult roles--Brunnhilde, Siegfried, and Wotan. Due to this, in order to be able to experience this monumental opus, you must turn to the recordings of the past to sample the greatness of Richard Wagner. With a team that consisted of chorus master Wilhelm Pitz, singers Astrid Varnay, Hans Hotter, Wolfgang Windgassen, Ramon Vinay, Gustav Neidlinger, Gre Brouwenstijn, Martha Modl, and later Birgit Nilsson, Martti Talvela, James King, Leonie Rysanek, and other singers who owned these roles in the Theatre on the Green Hill, plus a plethora of conductors that consisted of Herbert von Karajan, Hans Knappertsbusch, Clemens Krauss, Joseph Keilberth, and Rudolf Kempe (all conductors who by some divine intervention all had last names beginning with "K"), Wieland Wagner unveiled a new and fresh way of Wagner interpretation along with a team of singers and musicians who made this great music sing. Solti leads the Wiener Philharmoniker in a recording that brings the theatrical values of Wagner's operas to the comfort of the living room without the stage noises and other distractions that some listeners seem to detest. Here, you get the steerhorns and tuned anvils and metal bars that Wagner personally requested to be put into the score, in addition to other sound effects that would be impossible to realize in the theater. It is true that while Solti had a heavy hand in this recording in comparison with conductors such as Karajan, Krauss, Bohm, and Boulez who exuded transparency in their readings, he brings everything in the score to life. From the Mime Wanderer riddle scene to the Forging song to the Wotan Erda confrontation and the glorious love duet that ends the opera, Solti gets all the orchestral nuances perfectly. From the haziness of the Norn scene to the Dawn love duet and the Gibichung hall music, and the Waltraute Brunnhilde dialogue, I think Solti captures this Act perfectly. Act 2 is done well too, with Gottlob Frick's menacing Hagen and Neidlinger's definitive Alberich creating a most sinister mood accompanied by Solti's masterly conducting. From the chattering of the Rhinemaidens to Siegfried's death and funeral march to the glorious Immolation Scene, I think this Act III represents Wagner's music at its greatest, and no other recording captures the essence of the final moments of the Ring with all its synthesis of the various leitmotifs in such a moving manner. I have never seen such a glorious cast assembled in the recording studio such as this, and everything from Neidlinger's Alberich, Nilsson's Brunnhilde, Hotter and London's Wotans, Windgassens's Siegfried, Flagstad's Rheingold Fricka and Ludwig's Walkure Fricka, Hoffgen's Erda, King's Siegmund, Crespin's Sieglinde, Frick's Hagen and Hunding, Bohme's characterful Fafner, Sutherland woodbird, Stolze's Mime, and the chattery and lusty Walkures, Norns, and Rheinmaidens is simply a vocal treat. James King is a most moving Siegmund, surpassed only by his Bohm interpretation and possibly Ramon Vinay on a good day, and his Sieglinde, Regine Crespin, is one of the most female and human singers ever to have brought the role to life. With the care lavished on such a great project (Culshaw's attention to the miniscule details in the score), Solti's wonderful conducting, and a cast that truly represents the golden age of Wagner, I would say, this is an essential recording for anyone's collection."
"Being a Chicago native, I've been a fan of Solti for a very long time & his conducting of the Ring cycle is absolutely sensational."
"The cast is simply incredible, featuring the incomparable Birgit Nilsson as Brunnhilde and a wonderful Wolfgang Windgassen as Siegfried."
"Yes, asking a Wagnerian about his/her favorite recording of Der Ring will always produce wildly varying responses, but regardless of what you may read in other reviews, the fact remains that this recording is THE standard Ring, and certinly the right choice for those new to Wagner's masterpiece. As I said in an earlier, anonymous review: "This collection is a must for anyone who wants to embark on a lifelong study of the monumental Ring Cycle."
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Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A beautiful Opera with moving arias."
"This is the background music in our house."
"Well performed."
"I wanted the Sutherland version because I don't like real heavy sopranos."
"Absolutely the definitive version - just look at the cast!"
"Love it!"
"the opera is transformative and the two soprano roles are magical, the tenor is sublime."
"What could be better than awesome opera?"
Although he and Callas wouldn''t perform the opera together on-stage for another 10 years, the chemistry and tension they brought to those later live performances are already in evidence here, as if they have done these roles together many times. Little can be added to what's been written about this landmark recording, except that Walter Legge's 1953 mono production yields nothing to modern Tosca recordings for vivacity and theatrical impact--especially Maria Callas's.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a brilliant Tosca."
"Considered, by many, to be the standard by which Tosca performances are judged. The orchestra is loud and some of the singing is barely audible, especially at the very beginning."
"finer ears than mine may find Callas wanting, as i see in professional reviews, but to this 1971 high school graduate Callas is the best sounding female singer i've ever heard, which is weird and wonderful to my 20th century ears because most female opera sopranos sound like screetchy car wrecks to me."
"The definitive recording."
"Hey,It's La Callas;one need not say anything more!!!"
"quick purchase at a fair price for a classic performance, I would recommend this item to any Opera lover."
"Hey I'm an Opera newbie trying to find his way around the maze with the help of Opera 101 (any Opera guru's out there that would like to help me out here?)."
"77 people have reviewed this item before me -- so who needs me?"
Best Voices
Jonathan Antoine's solo debut, "Tenore," follows the success he achieved with former singing partner, Charlotte Jaconelli, which includes a top 10 debut on the Billboard Classical Crossover chart and over 200,000 albums sold worldwide. "Tenore" is the result of combined natural talent and strong work ethic; it is our first taste of Jonathan Antoine s potential as he begins his promising solo career.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I believe this young man will be opera's greatest ambassador."
"It has taken me a few days longer than normal to write this review for no other reason than I fear I will not have the words to do this incredible album and this brilliant tenor the justice deserved. The tour de force of Tenore will have you experiencing heights of great joy and haunting sorrow. Jonathan instinctively knows when the "telling of the story" requires power and intensity or should be sweetly gentle."
"It's mature and sophisticated well beyond his 19 years, extremely powerful, gorgeously beautiful, exquisitely tender, heartwrenchingly emotional."
"Someday though I am hoping to watch him as an opera singer in opera houses."
"Plan to be mezmoized by his powerful voice and in awe of how he has complete control of those long wonderful notes and the levels he reaches so effortlessly."
"I was mesmerized by his voice, and probably watched his audition video 50 times or more."
"This is a beautiful album which deserves it's place at #1 in UK Classical Charts - Jonathan now holds the official record at 19 years of age for achieving this!!!"
"The beauty and passion displayed in each track by this young man defy description.He sings so effortlessly. The only thing better than hearing TENORE on CD or download, would be to see JONATHAN ANTOINE in person."
Best Tenor Voices
Jonathan Antoine's solo debut, "Tenore," follows the success he achieved with former singing partner, Charlotte Jaconelli, which includes a top 10 debut on the Billboard Classical Crossover chart and over 200,000 albums sold worldwide. "Tenore" is the result of combined natural talent and strong work ethic; it is our first taste of Jonathan Antoine s potential as he begins his promising solo career.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I believe this young man will be opera's greatest ambassador."
"It has taken me a few days longer than normal to write this review for no other reason than I fear I will not have the words to do this incredible album and this brilliant tenor the justice deserved. The tour de force of Tenore will have you experiencing heights of great joy and haunting sorrow. Jonathan instinctively knows when the "telling of the story" requires power and intensity or should be sweetly gentle."
"It's mature and sophisticated well beyond his 19 years, extremely powerful, gorgeously beautiful, exquisitely tender, heartwrenchingly emotional."
"Someday though I am hoping to watch him as an opera singer in opera houses."
"Plan to be mezmoized by his powerful voice and in awe of how he has complete control of those long wonderful notes and the levels he reaches so effortlessly."
"I was mesmerized by his voice, and probably watched his audition video 50 times or more."
"This is a beautiful album which deserves it's place at #1 in UK Classical Charts - Jonathan now holds the official record at 19 years of age for achieving this!!!"
"The beauty and passion displayed in each track by this young man defy description.He sings so effortlessly. The only thing better than hearing TENORE on CD or download, would be to see JONATHAN ANTOINE in person."
Best Baritone Voices
Sutherland's second recording of I Puritani is a substantial step beyond her first, thanks largely to the excellent cast assembled around her and to Richard Bonynge's growth in power and subtlety as a conductor.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The cast is in good voice and Bonyage moves them through their paces with his usual expert conducting."
"This CD should be the only version of this opera your order and it is worth every penny paid for this awesome opera."
"Bellini, Pavarotti, Sutherland plus Cappuccilli, Ghiaurov and Bonynge - Can't be beat!"
"Love this opera - this purchase was fantastic!"
"This is definitely the best recording of I Puritani on the market and it is worth the price whether you purchase it new or used...it is definitely worth adding to your collection!"
"Yes, that production had its flaws...Pavarotti's voice cracked, and Sutherland's last note was blood curdling. And the score is just too long...it saps the joy out of the beautiful arias by drawing them out. In summary, the live 1976 performance and Sutherland's 1962 recording made me love this opera."