WAGNER THE RING CYCLE SOLTI 19LP DECCA BOX SET D100D19

	£		102
	$		135

e © AP6.0

WAGNER

DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN

DECCA - D100D19

Boxes and books - EX

Vinyl - MINT

This is the rare 1968 19 LP set comprising of four individual operas released by Decca between 1959 & 1966.

 Each opera comes in its own box complete with book containing German libretto and English translation and superb illustrations. All books are perfect. Boxes and sleeves are in excellent condition. Only one of the individual boxes has a minor score mark. This is faint and hard to spot. The outer box sleeve has a small dent in the back which I have clearly photographed. (See last photograph.) This is nothing major. Overall an excellent, rare box set with stunning condition vinyl.

The following review is from amazon

'Let me confess that I generally read other reviewers' comments, and am grateful for their efforts. It is my belief that they are also truthful. Some are quite thorough, offering comparisons between the different versions of the Ring. This is interesting but, in my opinion, not necessary. Solti's Ring, with the VPO and a cast second to none, is a superb effort.

This does not mean there are no weaknesses. The Ring is a massive work, extremely demanding of all resources. Solti's approach can only be described as "epic" and if this is to your taste, you need look no further.

Perhaps other conductors are much more sensitive to certain portions of the work. In my opinion, this often results in the sacrifice of some other aspect of the work. In other words, the Ring can become a zero-sum game; if you have weak singers, maybe it is necessary to back off the orchestra, vice versa if the orchestral demands cannot be met. Ideally, a combination of a powerful orchestra with premier Wagnerian singers is needed. And let's not forget the reading of the work, where the conductor's hand really plays a critical role in one's ability to extract the most from the work.

It is understood that due to the weight of the conductor's approach on the ultimate expression of the music, then the Ring, like any other interpretation, is really irrevocably linked to that conductor. Hence, this Ring is really an expression of Wagner's Ring as Solti sees it, and any review is really, to a significant extent, a leap of faith for the reader.

That being the given, I believe that Solti's Ring meets all of the criteria for a superb Ring on all levels, namely: interpretation, musicianship, and vocal quality.

Interpretation:

As already stated, Solti's view of the Ring is that it is an "epic." As such, it leaves little room to be introspective, and this may be a significant weakness to certain listeners. Hence, any negative reviews with respect to this particular reading of the Ring may be simply due to the fact that the reviewer seeks a more sensitive approach. And since the conductor's approach permeates virtually every facet of the work (musicianship, singing, etc.), the conductor should therefore get the blame.

By the same token, the conductor merits all the accolades if the approach appeals to the listener. In my view, Solti's approach can be described as "unafraid" or even "courageous." He harnesses the full capability of the VPO and the singers to present this massive drama in its full glory and complexity. He does not restrain the orchestra, but rather, frees it to express itself. The singers, being the best of their time, are also led to excel. For some, this borders on "showing off," for others, it comes with the territory in relation to a work on the scale of the Ring.

Musicianship:

The VPO was the best orchestra in the world at the time of these recordings. The strings have an exceptionally sweet sound; the brass is "broad" as Solti himself described. This juxtaposition is balanced by the other orchestral forces---and a painstaking attention to detail under the directorship of John Culshaw---achieving a balanced yet powerful sound.

However, some reviewers may complain that the use of special sound effects is not "natural." Again, this is a valid point. Some prefer to hear only the music and the singing. Going too far the other way with too many effects, and the net effect is distraction instead of support. (Can you imagine if the horses' gallop is captured in the "Ride of the Valkyries"?)

In my opinion, the approach taken in this version of the Ring is appropriate. There is supposedly some action on the stage, so it is important to capture, say, the steerhorns as they approach closer, or Wotan's spear striking the rock as he summons Loge. The key here is to balance the relevant action of the drama with the music, and I believe this is appropriate for the Ring.

Vocals:

Alas, the vocals are the most difficult to describe in sufficient detail to convince one way or another. The reason is not just the performers themselves, but also the timeframe under which they perform. It must be remembered that this Ring was "constructed" over many years. Hence, we actually capture the performers at different points in their careers. The impact is not only on vocal quality, but also on interpretation.

A case in point is Hotter's Wotan. In Siegfried, his vocal command is superb, but in Walkure, it is faulty. Nilsson, on the other hand, is fairly consistent throughout; her power and control is evident (although her voice could be best described as "maternal," hardly a quality associated with a youthful demi-goddess Walkure).

Nonetheless, the cast in this Ring performs to the task with great zeal, even if in certain cases it is uneven. But this will probably be found in any interpretation of the Ring. At least, in my opinion, the cast in this Ring is superior to anything more modern, and when combined with the VPO's playing, can lead to some exhilarating moments.

Summary:

In my opinion, the Solti Ring can certainly be compared to others but, in the end, it is not necessary. In all the criteria of interpretation, musicianship and singing, this Ring is the best to date. But again, take this review on faith.'   

Non UK bidders please check the postage before bidding. Its pretty high. This is a very hefty set. It weighs about 5.5kg when packed!