I missed out on the latest release of Sir Solti’s Wagner Ring Cycle on LP and CD because I was in hospital for a few of weeks.
As I await a couple of CDs on Bolero, I am very grateful for the help I received from members here.
I have Googled and searched Amazon, eBay and Discog and am confused about which Ring Cycle recording I should purchase. I do not have a streamer, though I do have an Apple iTunes account. However, sitting in front of the iMac might be alright for the occasional listen for the odd CD or LP purchase. I would much prefer some guidance from forum members, make the purchase and sit back in the music room for listening enjoyment.
The reason for the non-streamer black box is finances and my dear wife. I do not have a great income, more of a very modest pension after some workplace injuries caused by my colleagues. They have all been terminated now: 17 electricians, plus electrical engineers, asset planners and the rest. It is a long story, a 6.5-year workplace battle that I can not go into.
Back to the topic, if a number of kind souls could direct me to an older recording of the, possibly from one of the aforementioned online outlets, I would be very grateful. I do not wish to purchase portions of Wagner’s Ring Cycle though a complete set. I may be corrected on this, and happily so. However, it is only reading one book of The Lord of The Rings and saying you have read the lot. The story is incomplete. I do have a single CD of Wagner’s ring, though I find myself wishing for more.
As a late P.S. I have started a digital and paper subscription with Gramophone Magazine. I am very grateful for those who led me to this publication.
The best recording of the Ring Cycle is without doubt Solti’s version. The version below was my 21st birthday present from my parents in 1979. I don’t think it was the 1968 release, i think it was the 1970’s release but i could be wrong. This is the complete cycle.
If you don’t give a monkey’s about ‘greatness’ I’d thoroughly recommend the Hans Swarowsky Ring on Profil 14CDs for £39.95. Recorded in the late 1960s it never stood a chance against the marketing might of Decca and the Solti Ring, (nor Karajan for that matter). Solid and engaging in every way. Another out of the way but thoroughly excellent ring is Duisburger Philharmoniker under Axel Kober - sadly I think some parts of the cycle are out of print as CDs. DGP
I picked this one up recently on eBay for £100 which I thought was very reasonable. The vinyl looks pristine. Not sure how it compares to the Solti as I’ve not had an opportunity listen to it yet. Need the family to be out for an extended period.
Controversial! I have seven different Ring cycles and my preferred version is usually the version last played. That said, I do still have three copies of the Solti Ring and that is the one I play most frequently.
Controversial ? Absolutely
I think that “what’s the best Ring Cycle” controversy has been going since the day it was first performed lol.
Like all these things, it’s a matter of personal opinion.
Thank you to everyone who replied and for the links to the reviews. It looks like I will be searching for a Solti version, though I may have to save a few pennies first.
Good luck with your quest, Mitch! I first listened to The Ring by borrowing LPs from a record library. I’m not sure if you have these still?
There are various Richard Wagner societies in Australia. A good way to interact with other listeners.
The latest Solti remaster will be expensive. Do you want it on LP or would CD suffice?
I find the 2012 remastering perfectly acceptable. There’s also Wilhelm Furtwängler 1953 Rome recordings which were remastered in 2011. CD
I don’t think there will ever be a definitive Ring. I like Gundula Janowitz as Sieglinde in Karajan. I wouldn’t spend a lot of money on EBay speculators who bought up the limited Solti edition. Perhaps listen to some of the older recordings and get some secondhand books to read the librettos and learn more about Wagner’s music dramas?
I have tracked down one LP set though I can not remember the year as we have a power outage and I am using my iPad which is connected to the 4G mobile network.
I had a mild light bulb moment that I might be able to sell my Celestron 8” Edge HD telescope and accessories and put the money towards a ND5XS2. It is with reluctance that I think of this, however I believe that I will derive more pleasure and use out of the streamer. The reason I think of this is that it is too difficult to negotiate my wife’s menagerie of pot plants, tables and chairs at our rear door to gain access to the rear garden.
I will Google to see if there are any Wagner or Solti groups near me. Thank you for this tip as it never occurred to me.
I beg to differ strongly. The best STUDIO recording of the Ring? Yes possibly. Superb sound as Decca pulled all the stops and have regularly remastered it using the latest technology available each time. And a mostly excellent, albeit not perfect, cast (Hotter and Windgassen, way too old, for instance).
The best Ring available however? Not by a mile, when you start exploring the live Bayreuth recordings of the 50´s, unfortunately all in mono sound, with the exception of the magnificent Keilberth ‘55, in early stereo, recorded by the same team, led by John Culshaw, that would go on recording Solti’s version.
A generally accepted « best Ring ever » by hard core Wagnerians is Clemens Krauss’ 1953 Bayreuth live recording in impeccable mono.
As i’ve already said, there are and always have been very different views on “the best”.
That’s what they are though, “views”, yours mine or anybody else’s. They are are all valid, just different.
I think this Decca box was only ever issued on CD. It’s usually regarded as a good entry level Ring, because of some of the sound and stereo effects, which make it more approachable. Yet as you can probably imagine, it is also the reason why some fans do not hold it in high regard.
I bought this box for £100 back in the day. These days they’re available for around £30, I think.
