Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Wilhelm Furtwängler, La Scala Theater Orchestra :: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen [Box Set]

A Fine Document of the Ring, but the Sound is Poor

The Cultural Observer | 01/18/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although the age of recording passed the best years of his career, Wilhelm Furtwängler is today known as the greatest conductor of the German repertoire. The oddities (and likewise, these are also virtues) of his baton technique include his relatively slow paced tempi (relying extensively on rubato within a very dominant string section), his dramatically impregnated readings of the music, and that strange stick shifting that relies less on precise beats and more strongly on producing a warm, cohesive, and liquid phrasing. His sense for musical architecture is also seconded only by a few conductors, his true successor being Daniel Barenboim.



Furtwängler, more so than any other conductor, is known as the prime interpreter of Wagner's operas. The level of affinity that he is able to express through his performances of Wagner's music shows a deep understanding of the master's philosophy and the idiom through which he expresses it subtly. The greatest exponents of his art are the complete Tristan und Isolde with EMI and an equally stellar Vienna Die Walküre on the same label. Both express that unique vision that only he and Barenboim were able to draw out of the massive and highly complex scores. Furtwängler saw the Ring as an epic legend: sober, grim, and truly German like no other work in the entire Austro-German repertory is.



Unfortunately, the two complete Ring cycles (the aforementioned Vienna Walküre was a studio recording that was going to initiate an entire cycle) that exist on recording today are documented with Furtwängler directing Italian orchestras. In the absence of the virtuosity of German orchestras, Furtwängler has to compensate with broader tempi and an eschewing of clarity and transparency that was characteristic of his Walküre recording. He also indulges in two cuts: one in the Brünnhilde-Wotan dialog in Act 2 of Walküre and another with Siegfried and the Wanderer's exchanges in Act 3 of Siegfried. Despite the quality of the orchestra, Furtwängler nonetheless gives us a backbone of his vision of the Ring that shines through albeit the muddy sound. If you want to hear a Furtwängler Ring cycle, the better recording is the RAI. Not only is the sound better, the cast is top notch too.



The majority of the singers in this Ring are representative of the Teutonic singers who dominated this repertoire at the time. Ludwig Weber is exemplary in the bass roles, Elisabeth Höngen intense and impacting in the mezzo roles, Alois Pernerstorfer was Alberich, Ferdinand Frantz is Wotan for Rheingold and Walküre, and Josef Herrmann replaces him as the Wanderer. Günther Treptow is excellent as Siegmund, and Hilde Konetzni less so as Sieglinde. Set Svanholm is better as the young Siegfried, while Max Lorenz is mature as the Götterdämmerung Siegfried, albeit compromised in vocal resources. The prime reason to listen to this Ring though would be Kirsten Flagstad's goddess of a Brünnhilde. A few top notes have left her instrument, but her understanding of the character is unparalleled except by a few like Nilsson and Varnay. It's riveting to listen to her secure, large voice going through Brünnhilde's music so valiantly. Her dialog with Wotan is full of wisdom, her Todesverkundigung is sympathetic, her awakening in Siegfried rapturous, and herImmolation Scene a wonder. She goes through blank spots in Act II of Götterdämmerung, but that is a small chink in an essentially powerful portrayal of the character.



Overall, if a Furtwängler Ring is what you want to hear, the RAI recording is the cycle of choice. However, for Flagstad and Furtwängler's partnership, it doesn't get better than their Tristan and this Ring.

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Wanted to hear this for more than 40 years

English tutor | Ohio | 09/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Concern about possible sound quality probably put me off from buying this. However, I'm sorry I waited so long. It's just wonderful and the sound is not a problem as I am accostomed to listening to vintage recordings. Flagstad is truly the love of my life and at 55 she was just amazing. Of course Furtwangler is magnificent too. Buy it!"

This remastering only for budget conscious

Michael J. Begley | Baltimore, MD USA | 05/09/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"[Disclaimer: I sell this product] This remastering of these great performances can only be recommended to those on a tight budget. A superior remastering was issued on Gebhardt and now a vastly superior remastering has been issued on Archipel. [I also sell those remasterings, but they are not packaged as a complete Ring - only the 4 individual operas]. Henry Fogel reviewed the Archipel remastering for Fanfare magazine and suggested that collectors should replace any previous edition with the Archipel. I have only heard the Gotterdammerung on Archipel, but the difference in sound quality is pretty great."