Anything, anything good

The more epic the merrier.

There aren't that many choices. Flying Dutchman, Tannhauser, Lohengrin, Tristan und Isolde, Ring.... I like the later stage.

Actually, I also like some of his other works; like the Wesendonck Lieder.

There aren't that many choices. Flying Dutchman, Tannhauser, Lohengrin, Tristan und Isolde, Ring.... I like the later stage.

Actually, I also like some of his other works; like the Wesendonck Lieder.

I know, but specific works by conductors and good recordings

I know, but specific works by conductors and good recordings

Oooh yes. What was I thinking? *slaps self*

*Goes to dig through collection. I remember I researched a bit on this last year during my Romantic period course.

If you are interested in the Ring cycle, the Solti boxset is a standard recommendation.

If you are interested in the Ring cycle, the Solti boxset is a standard recommendation.

Yes. Solti is the original; the "loudest/grandest" I believe. That is the one I have heard. I also have the Karajan and Krauss ones but haven't had the chance to listen to them yet.

More recommendations, I was expecting two pages of posts from the opera lovers

I just picked up the Janowski Ring Cycle here:

http://www.berkshirerecordoutlet.com/ (Search for Janowski Ring).

for less than $50. 14 CD's, the recording, to my ears, is very good, and it gives you an entire bloody Ring Cycle. Can you get more epic than that? The downside is it took about a month to arrive.

Here's a review: http://www.wagnerdiscography.com/reviews/rin/rin80janowski.htm

It would take a lot of commitment to listen to the Ring all the way through, since you'd have to listen and then read at the same time, and plus it takes forever, and if you don't have a lot of time, listening to them in short stretches kind of loses the continuity of the whole thing.

But if you do have the time, it is very rewarding.

Karajan. Wagner was his best, in my opinion. i've cared for Wagner enough to get the Solti set. when it comes to proto-nazi composers, i always preferred Strauss

I would like to explore some other complete Ring cycles other than the Solti boxset which I have, but the prospects are daunting lol.

well, the Karajan set on DG is quite nice, would probably be a nice contrast, given that Karajan and Solti were completely different in their conducting styles.

I know, it's the time-requirement that is daunting for me. I will try to get the Karajan set once I have a lot of free time.