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List Price: $181.98 | | Label: Decca
Salesrank: 33227
Released: October 14, 1997 |
| Our Price: $125.84 |
| Used Price: $89.95 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sir Georg Solti Track Listing:
Disc 1:
1. Rheingold
2. Rheingold
3. Rheingold
4. Rheingold
5. Rheingold
6. Rheingold
7. Rheingold
8. Rheingold
9. Rheingold
10. Rheingold
11. Rheingold
12. Rheingold
13. Rheingold
14. Rheingold
15. Rheingold
Disc 2:
1. Rheingold
2. Rheingold
3. Rheingold
4. Rheingold
5. Rheingold
6. Rheingold
7. Rheingold
8. Rheingold
9. Rheingold
10. Rheingold
11. Rheingold
12. Rheingold
13. Rheingold
14. Rheingold
15. Rheingold
Disc 3:
1. Rheingold
2. Die Walküre
3. Die Walküre
4. Die Walküre
5. Die Walküre
6. Die Walküre
7. Die Walküre
8. Die Walküre
9. Die Walküre
10. Die Walküre
11. Die Walküre
12. Die Walküre
Disc 4:
1. Die Walküre
2. Die Walküre
3. Die Walküre
4. Die Walküre
5. Die Walküre
6. Die Walküre
7. Die Walküre
8. Die Walküre
9. Die Walküre
10. Die Walküre
11. Die Walküre
12. Die Walküre
Disc 5:
1. Die Walküre
2. Die Walküre
3. Die Walküre
4. Die Walküre
5. Die Walküre
Disc 6:
1. Die Walküre
2. Die Walküre
3. Die Walküre
4. Die Walküre
5. Die Walküre
6. Die Walküre
7. Die Walküre
8. Die Walküre
9. Die Walküre
10. Die Walküre
11. Die Walküre
12. Die Walküre
13. Die Walküre
14. Die Walküre
Disc 7:
1. Die Walküre
2. Siegried
3. Siegried
4. Siegried
5. Siegried
6. Siegried
7. Siegried
8. Siegried
9. Siegried
10. Siegried
11. Siegried
12. Siegried
13. Siegried
14. Siegried
15. Siegried
Disc 8:
1. Siegried
2. Siegried
3. Siegried
4. Siegried
5. Siegried
6. Siegried
7. Siegried
8. Siegried
9. Siegried
10. Siegried
11. Siegried
12. Siegried
13. Siegried
Disc 9:
1. Siegried
2. Siegried
3. Siegried
4. Siegried
5. Siegried
6. Siegried
7. Siegried
8. Siegried
9. Siegried
10. Siegried
11. Siegried
12. Siegried
Disc 10:
1. Siegried
2. Siegried
3. Siegried
4. Siegried
5. Siegried
6. Siegried
7. Siegried
8. Siegried
9. Siegried
10. Siegried
11. Siegried
Disc 11:
1. Siegried
2. Gotterdämmerung
3. Gotterdämmerung
4. Gotterdämmerung
5. Gotterdämmerung
6. Gotterdämmerung
7. Gotterdämmerung
8. Gotterdämmerung
9. Gotterdämmerung
10. Gotterdämmerung
11. Gotterdämmerung
12. Gotterdämmerung
13. Gotterdämmerung
Disc 12:
1. Gotterdämmerung
2. Gotterdämmerung
3. Gotterdämmerung
4. Gotterdämmerung
5. Gotterdämmerung
6. Gotterdämmerung
7. Gotterdämmerung
8. Gotterdämmerung
9. Gotterdämmerung
Disc 13:
1. Gotterdämmerung
2. Gotterdämmerung
3. Gotterdämmerung
4. Gotterdämmerung
5. Gotterdämmerung
6. Gotterdämmerung
7. Gotterdämmerung
8. Gotterdämmerung
9. Gotterdämmerung
10. Gotterdämmerung
11. Gotterdämmerung
12. Gotterdämmerung
13. Gotterdämmerung
14. Gotterdämmerung
Editorial Review:
Modern storage media (CD/DVD) offer both high fidelity and great reliability in the playback of music. 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. Though other Rings were issued after this landmark enterprise, none have equaled the Decca Ring in popularity. There are those who prefer live performances, or who feel that the sound and theatrical effects in this recording are overdone; nonetheless this remains the benchmark Ring, as shown by its seemingly endless rerelease schedule. The Ring effort was high profile at the time and helped nail down Sir Georg Solti's status as a "superstar" conductor and authoritative interpreter of the Wagnerian repertory. Another key contributor to the success of the project was the uniform excellence in the casting. Definitive performances given include Neidlinger's nietzschean Alberich, Stolze's whining Mime, Boehme's rumbling Fafnir, along with Nilsson in her prime-more a force of nature than a human voice. 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. --Christian C. Rix
Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sir Georg Solti Reviews:
Bad recommendation for a Wagner beginner 
2009-11-22 - Many reviewers have already pointed out the numerous flaws of this recording; of Solti's over the top and classless conducting, of a cast full of big names but with some past their prime, of the orchestra overpowering the singers, of the ridiculous myth concerning the "miraculous" sound quality of this recording when it is one of the most overproduced garbage of its time..... but ultimately opinions are opinions and not everyone share these opinions, which is why you still see good reviews for this Solti ring. Irregardless of whether it deserves the praises and hype or not. But to me, I cannot understand why people still recommend this as the first Wagner ring, it is at best a flawed masterpiece, one that has Solti's sound written all over it, highly overpriced, cannot be considered an all rounder and ultimately a bad introduction to what Wagner and Des Ring is all about. I don't think it will be fair to sight out Solti, most other rings, from Karajan, Bohm, Keilberth etc have some major flaws and not-so-good singers that pull the set down to varying degrees. One Ring which I find to be an exception and which I highly recommend to anyone looking for his first Ring set is Barenboim's. Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen [Box Set]. I will struggle to list out any major flaw in it, good conducting from Barenboim, good modern production, and as a whole the strongest cast with no major weak link (yes, Siegfried Jerusalem can't be called a great Siegfried, but he is better than what many give him credit for). Considering that it is much cheaper than the Solti Ring I will give it my first recommendation, you might as well get the DVD but the CD recording is top quality too. An even better deal would be to get this boxset (Wagner: The Great Operas from the Bayreuth Festival) which is an absurd bargain and I would take Bohm's ring over Solti's anytime, but for the Ring itself Barenboim's ring is probably the flat out best of all rings.
A Legend 
2009-08-26 - For being the first complete recording of The Ring in history, it still holds it's place as the best cycle one can buy. All the performers are in their prime, most notably Nilsson and Windgassen. Both are superb, and have forever ruined me, as far as I'm concerned (I will always compare everyone else to them).
The first time I heard The Ring, it was Karajan's version. I immediately was bored to death by it, and almost completely turned me away from the cycle. Luckily, a few friends referred me to this recording, and I immediately fell in love with it.
Solti does not disappoint in this recording either. His interpretation is fiery, thorough, and always interesting (which can be quite a challenge when you run into places of around 30 minutes of recitative). He has excellent control over the Vienna Phil and gives every measure a heart-felt reading.
Until I hear a recording that is as astounding as this, I will refer everyone to this recording alone. If the price is intimidating to you (it definitely is to me), look for it in your public library. It's not hard to find for free, it just takes a bit of searching.
An artificial achievement of historic importance
2009-07-14 - This recording of Wagner's Ring cycle was revolutionary. It was made possible by John Culshaw's vision, and Solti's single-mindedness, and the new technology of LPs and stereo sound (on Decca). Although well-intentioned, the end product was artifice, devoid of dramatic impact, despite its sonic wonders. Disjointed patches of the quilt.
If you are looking for a set of the entire Ring cycle with dramatic thrust, from beginning to end, a monumental task indeed, I would recommend a live performance, and none better than Karl Boehm's recording from the 1967 Bayreuther Festspielen, made two years after Solti's effort, with many of the same principals (on Philips).
Solti's Ring is the best seller in classical music sales ever (ca. 18 million), topping the Three Tenors (ca. 14 million), according to Norman Lebrecht, in The Life and Death of Classical Music (Anchor Books, 2007, 136). Nevertheless, if it is the drama of this complex, somewhat absurd, tale you are searching for, and the musical and vocal commitments needed to carry it through, then Boehm's interpretation is the one you will want.
A Long Overdue Comment 
2009-05-08 - Despite its legendary status based largely, I would imagine, on the presence of the peerless Nilsson at her prime and various other outstanding cast members, Culshaw's perplexing decision to use Hotter as the Wotan and Solti as conductor were casting disasters which mar much of the cycle. In his book, Ring Resounding, Culshaw admits that Hotter was a compromise and felt he would be critized by one faction or the other if he did or didn't use Hotter. The guy may have much experience and dramatic insight concerning the role, but his voice per se (never that great, even in its prime) is in such bad shape it's virtually unlistenable and even at times unbearable. (Like hearing a bass baritone Gwyneth Jones) I believe Joseph Metternich was still active at the time and would have been an ideal Wotan as evident on many recordings, I don't know if he was under contract with Decca, but since EMI was (foolishly) not planning on a complete Ring at the time, perhaps they might have released him.
Solti's conducting is pretty mediocre (lacking in insight and clarity and articulation in the string writing due to overly rapid tempi, projects various pivotal orchestral sonorities poorly, narrow dynamic range, sameness of attacts and tonal quality within the orchestral choirs...etc...etc..) Most of the electronic tricks and sound effects seem either dated, obtrusive, unrealistic or just lacking in dramatic and/or musical taste.
The Leinsdorf Walkure initially on RCA is so far superior in every respect (Nilsson, London, Gorr, Vickers!) except maybe for some awkward edits, that it easily demonstrates Leinsdorf would have been the legitimate choice and I believe he was under contract with London Decca at the time! His conducting can be best described as the exact opposite of the earlier description of Solti. His interpretation contains all the hallmarks of first class Wagner conducting. He was initially Bodansky's assistant at the Met as Bodansky was initially Mahler's assistant in Vienna. He was part a great tradition of Wagner conductor. You figure it. Solti did work with Toscanini for a short while, I think, at Salzburg, but he seems to have inherited most of Toscanini's worst characteristics rather than his best.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Bensar release of a complete uncut Met Ring from the early 60's (before their plug was pulled) with Leinsdorf conducting an excellent cast to boot (also including Nilsson). Even though the sound isn't perfect, it's more than listenable and the musical quality of this great and unique work is audibly present. Parts of this Ring are broadcast occasionally on the Sirius Met Network. I can easily rate it among the best of my two dozen or so complete Ring cycles on CD...along with the Furtwangler (RAI early 50's), Janowsky (first digital on Eurodisc and like Furtwangler, follows all of Wagner's musical details such as the entrance of the male chorus in Gotterdammerung beginning with one then two choristers growing over several measures into the full chorus and not concerting various Walkure's lines in their big scene.) Other great Rings are the Knappertsbusch (several are available from mid 50's, casts vary in quality), Moralt (late 40's excellent cast with suprisingly good sound), Bohm (also, in general great cast, mid 60's Bayreuth). The Met Ring (Schenk production) on DVD is also excellent in nearly every respect. (Biggest outright failure: the effect for Fafner in Siegfried.) Levine is at his best.
I place the Solti Ring somewhere in the lower middle.
In closing I should mention that the Bensar release contains much of the original intermission features. One of which was a great tongue in cheek discussion-argument between Boris Goldowsky and an equally adept opponent over whether Gotterdammerung is a Wagner music drams or a old fashioned bigger than life romantic grand opera a la Meyerbeer. Of course, as we all know, it turns out to be both!! (Siegfried's and Brunnhilde's immolation is the ultimate auto-de-fe!)
The Cream of the Crop, For Studio Versions
2008-10-10 - I started out with the Levine/Met dvd of this opera/cycle. As most reviewers know, that dvd tends to make the more subtle, quiet portions of the Ring seem endless (just check out the Die Walkure portion). I can't knock that dvd collection too much, because it at least gave me an idea of a more traditional Ring, and hey, the Das Rheingold part of the cycle was often very good (LOVE Christa Ludwig's Fricka! Timeless!).
Because of my being advised by knowledgeable Wagnerites that I had mostly been cheated out of a more dynamic Ring recording, I began collecting the Solti-conducted version, buying one part of the cycle a month. I felt that this was the best way to fully absorb the operas; Das Rheingold one month, Die Walkure the next, etc. This approach worked where the Levine dvd ultimately failed: I was able to hear the Ring recorded in a more controlled environment. Some would be quick to point out the disadvantages to the Solti approach, and I sympathize. A live performance can be far more edgy, spotlighting the interpreter's personalities and lending more excitment thus.
For me, the Solti-conducted Ring has become the performance that immersed me most thoroughly in the Wagner Ring cycle. This set has grown with me. It was through this cycle that I began experiencing the Ring on a distinctly personal level. Please allow me to take time out to explain myself better:
The Ring is composed of characters and situations that are directly related to timeless psychological archetypes. When one opens/immerses oneself completely to the experience that the Ring provides (having a couple of books on the subject really helps as well), one can learn about one's individual relationship to these archetypes.
A really excellent addition to buying the Solti Ring cycle are the libretto books which come with each opera, written out in different languages (including English). These also include famous pictures depicting scenes from the Ring, depicted by artist Arthur Rackham. These are each really excellent inclusions that help the listener's immersion.
I'm going to close by pointing out a couple of faults with the Solti in comparison with the other, famous studio recording of the Ring.Herbert Von Karajan's Die Walkure is probably
the most effecting in terms of the Sieglinde-Siegmund duet...we're talking astoundingly moving singing and tasteful, yet committed orchestral playing throughout the first act. But overall, the Solti Walkure is by far the most rocking interpretation I've heard (and I've heard the Furtwangler, Keilberth classic, Bohm, and Krauss Bayreuth renditions). On a lighter note, I must mention the fact that Heavy Metal (most specifically the bands Manowar, Dio-fronted Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest) led me toward investigating the works of Richard Wagner, and the Ring in particular. I must particularly reccomend this recording of the Ring to any fellow Metalheads out there, as I haven't heard any more powerful performances of the (to paraphrase Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio) "heavy metal-inventing" parts of this opera. I understand also that many would take this in a bad light, and to question my earlier ranking of this recording as being "dynamic". But I must point out the beauty of Siefried's soliliquoy upon drinking the dragon's blood, his death speech, the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Brunnhilde-Siegfried meeting...her awakening. All of these I found more effecting that in any other recording of this work (I DO give props to the singing in the Krauss/Bayreuth rendition however).
I must point out also that the majority of the Karajan-conducted Ring seems to suffer far less from the often irritating (and head-scratch-provoking) intonation problems the Solti recording does. But I feel that's quibbling, BUY THIS RING if you want a recording of a great work that just keeps providing new things to admire and learn from with each listen. I can't think of a more inspiring form of reccomendation than that.
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