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Music : Wagner: The "Ring" Without Words
1 2 3 4 5
Rating: 
- Love him or loathe him, Wagner was an incredible composer
Mention Richard Wagner and many people's eyes will glaze over, or visions of interminable operas with large women with spears singing will pop into someone's head. But this does a disservice to Wagner, and to the listener - for Wagner wrote some very beautiful orchestral music to bridge between his operatic heroes and heroines singing. Wagner's Ring cycle is probably one of the greatest collections of composition in the world. But who has the time and patience to put in 15+ hours to listen to it? That's where this CD comes in - it's the cliff notes version of the opera - showing you the brilliance of Wagner's operas for the music, not the "singing." Music ranges from the light and lilting Forest Murmurs, to the heavy sorrow of Siegfried's Death and Funeral Music, to the instantly familiar Ride of the Valkyries. While so much attention has been paid to certain singers of certain productions of the Ring, this cuts through all of that to the fundamental orchestral music. A good recording, with nuanced performances and strong commitment to providing the best music possible, this is a great way for the listener to cut his or her teeth on Wagner, or to put just enough of a toe in the pool to find out that the water's fine.
Rating: - Greatest Works ever heard Part II
I still love this this CD!
Here is a brei of discription of one "Thus we begin, The 'Greenish Twilight' of The Rhine"
WAGNER: 5'24
First it starts out with the cello in E key. A horn is playing B key. Then, the horns go into E major. B E Ab.
After a little bit it carries on, then a violin comes in doing the E major.
Then more horns and violins come in still doing E major.
Then, after a liitlt bit a flute, more cellos, horns and the rest of the Orchestra comes in. Doing a circle grid in E major.
The whole orchestra strats, (except for precusion)
And finaly ending with the cello winding up in the E major grid. The orchestra plays along and then it ends!
Here is what I vote the works from a 10 scale.
1. 9.2
2. 7.3
3. 8.9
4. 5.1
5. 3.2
6. 8.0
7. 8.8
8. 6.9
9. 5.1
10. 4.2
11. 7.9
12. 8.0
13. 9.1
14. 8.7
15. 9.0
16. 7.9
17. 7.4
18. 3.9
19. 8.8
20. 10.0
-...
Rating:
- Orchestral Highlight of "The Ring"
Many people are put off or intimidated from listening to Wagner's operas. "The Ring" is at least 14 CDS long at full length. It could be daunting to even think of listening to the first note, knowing what's ahead.
"The Ring Without Words" is a good place to start. It has Orchestral highlights from all 4 "Ring" operas. Richard Wagner was and is a controversial composer. His world and political views were at worst vile and at best kooky. His personal behavior was low....yet, these orchestral excerpts show the God-given musical genius he possessed right up there with Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven.
I liked most tracks. I didn't like the interpretation of "The Magic Fire Music". For some reason it dragged and it didn't have the expected musical incandescence. The "Siegfried" and "Gotterdamerung" highlights stood out. The conductor was able to capture "the Noble Savage" aspect in Siegfried with those musical bits.
Rating:
- Get the Ring Disc instead.
If you're considering buying this CD, chances are you're not yet a serious Wagnerite. If you're going to listen to Wagner, do it like you mean it, or not at all. Unlike other reviewers, I think the idea of a "Ring synthesis" is silly. I suspect that Maazel did this project because his is the only ego bigger than Wagner's. If you're serious about appreciating the vast beauty of the Ring, I suggest that you start with the Ring Disc ... . It contains the complete Solti recording, vocal score, libretto, and all the information you could want about leitmotifs. (No, I was not involved with its creation, and I'm not getting paid to promote it. I just got it and know how cool it is.)
Rating: - Best Works ever heard
The Ring Without Words is my VERY favorite CD. People who enjoy Wagner's music will defintly love this CD. I only have one SMALL complaint. It's not the complete Ride of The Valkeries, but I didn't mind. This CD totaly changeded the way I think of Richard Wilhem Wagner! Very great busy masterpieces. Who gets this will be very pleaed and happy.
Chance Kafka
- Love him or loathe him, Wagner was an incredible composerMention Richard Wagner and many people's eyes will glaze over, or visions of interminable operas with large women with spears singing will pop into someone's head. But this does a disservice to Wagner, and to the listener - for Wagner wrote some very beautiful orchestral music to bridge between his operatic heroes and heroines singing. Wagner's Ring cycle is probably one of the greatest collections of composition in the world. But who has the time and patience to put in 15+ hours to listen to it? That's where this CD comes in - it's the cliff notes version of the opera - showing you the brilliance of Wagner's operas for the music, not the "singing." Music ranges from the light and lilting Forest Murmurs, to the heavy sorrow of Siegfried's Death and Funeral Music, to the instantly familiar Ride of the Valkyries. While so much attention has been paid to certain singers of certain productions of the Ring, this cuts through all of that to the fundamental orchestral music. A good recording, with nuanced performances and strong commitment to providing the best music possible, this is a great way for the listener to cut his or her teeth on Wagner, or to put just enough of a toe in the pool to find out that the water's fine.
Rating:
- Greatest Works ever heard Part III still love this this CD!
Here is a brei of discription of one "Thus we begin, The 'Greenish Twilight' of The Rhine"
WAGNER: 5'24
First it starts out with the cello in E key. A horn is playing B key. Then, the horns go into E major. B E Ab.
After a little bit it carries on, then a violin comes in doing the E major.
Then more horns and violins come in still doing E major.
Then, after a liitlt bit a flute, more cellos, horns and the rest of the Orchestra comes in. Doing a circle grid in E major.
The whole orchestra strats, (except for precusion)
And finaly ending with the cello winding up in the E major grid. The orchestra plays along and then it ends!
Here is what I vote the works from a 10 scale.
1. 9.2
2. 7.3
3. 8.9
4. 5.1
5. 3.2
6. 8.0
7. 8.8
8. 6.9
9. 5.1
10. 4.2
11. 7.9
12. 8.0
13. 9.1
14. 8.7
15. 9.0
16. 7.9
17. 7.4
18. 3.9
19. 8.8
20. 10.0
-...
Rating:
- Orchestral Highlight of "The Ring"Many people are put off or intimidated from listening to Wagner's operas. "The Ring" is at least 14 CDS long at full length. It could be daunting to even think of listening to the first note, knowing what's ahead.
"The Ring Without Words" is a good place to start. It has Orchestral highlights from all 4 "Ring" operas. Richard Wagner was and is a controversial composer. His world and political views were at worst vile and at best kooky. His personal behavior was low....yet, these orchestral excerpts show the God-given musical genius he possessed right up there with Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven.
I liked most tracks. I didn't like the interpretation of "The Magic Fire Music". For some reason it dragged and it didn't have the expected musical incandescence. The "Siegfried" and "Gotterdamerung" highlights stood out. The conductor was able to capture "the Noble Savage" aspect in Siegfried with those musical bits.
Rating:
- Get the Ring Disc instead.If you're considering buying this CD, chances are you're not yet a serious Wagnerite. If you're going to listen to Wagner, do it like you mean it, or not at all. Unlike other reviewers, I think the idea of a "Ring synthesis" is silly. I suspect that Maazel did this project because his is the only ego bigger than Wagner's. If you're serious about appreciating the vast beauty of the Ring, I suggest that you start with the Ring Disc ... . It contains the complete Solti recording, vocal score, libretto, and all the information you could want about leitmotifs. (No, I was not involved with its creation, and I'm not getting paid to promote it. I just got it and know how cool it is.)
Rating:
- Best Works ever heardThe Ring Without Words is my VERY favorite CD. People who enjoy Wagner's music will defintly love this CD. I only have one SMALL complaint. It's not the complete Ride of The Valkeries, but I didn't mind. This CD totaly changeded the way I think of Richard Wilhem Wagner! Very great busy masterpieces. Who gets this will be very pleaed and happy.
Chance Kafka