Search - Wagner, Arden, Austral :: Der Ring des Nibelungen: Historical Recordings 2

Treasures galore..if you don't have...

Wagnerfan | Louisville, KY | 12/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This second volume features the rest of the 'potted Ring' with Gotterdammerung. Most faithful Wagnerites will have the Toscanini excerpts (with announcer as on the Guild release.) The last of the first act of Walkure and the Gotterdammerung love duet where Melchior makes his infamous flaw. Was he as uncomfortable with Toscanini as some would suggest? Helen Traubel's fantastic Immolation Scene and Toscanini's dandy conducting. Toscanini and Traubel together are hypnotic. Were each staring into each other's eyes as they created this angelic blend?



I would certainly bought this set for the last scene of the second act of Gotterdammerung where Arthur Fear (no kidding!), Frederic Collier and Florence Austral make heavy weather of Siegfried's DEATH!



Some snippets, however, are humorous like the opening of Act 3 of Gotterdammerung which has a Rheinmaiden who nervously stands out with a ghostly 'boo' sound in her lower register AND a Siegfried (Rudolf Laubenthal) who actually finds this fishy trio a laugh. Seems back in the old days, the singers crawled under the skins of these characters. You don't find characterizations in front of the mic like this any more. Forget the dated sound...these guys are in the flesh before you.



Yes, there are mistakes and flubs, but the ear forgives them after a sitting. These were the days where re-takes were rare and the singer and conductor had to make do with what went on the finished disc. Thank goodness these excerpts have held up for so long.



A nice, but short, interview with Friedelind Wagner and Toscanini's music librarian. Lotte Lehmann is also politely interviewed. Then there is Eileen Farrell in the 1951 Gotterdamerung finale to bring the curtain down. Conducted by Victor de Sabata. A fitting end to four discs of tremendous enjoyment and discovery. The transfers are first class and each disc is filled to the brim. At least 71 minutes per disc. A real value. At this price, buy it."