(Gulp) Wagner Questions
Posted by: Todd A on 26 November 2002
Even though I have tried some Wagner before and have been left cold, I decided that since so many ostensibly intelligent and cultivated people seem to like him, he must have written something good. So I have decided to borrow an entire Ring cycle for the upcoming holiday weekend - the Solti; it was either that or the Karajan. Depending on my response to it, I may or may not buy a cycle. I saw a budget Sawallisch set that might do.
My questions, however, have to do with two other operas: Lohengrin and Tristan und Isolde. I first borrowed Solti's set of Lohengrin and was so impressed that I bought a used copy of Kubelik's far superior recording. Are there any better to consider, or should I stay put?
As for Tristan, I again tried the Solti set and was both impressed and disappointed. The sound was not to my taste, and the conducting was clearly not up to snuff. But still there was, and is, something there. So what is a good alternative? I'm thinking perhaps Bohm or Kleiber, or maybe even Furtwangler, though I have reservations about how Furty might do with the music.
My questions, however, have to do with two other operas: Lohengrin and Tristan und Isolde. I first borrowed Solti's set of Lohengrin and was so impressed that I bought a used copy of Kubelik's far superior recording. Are there any better to consider, or should I stay put?
As for Tristan, I again tried the Solti set and was both impressed and disappointed. The sound was not to my taste, and the conducting was clearly not up to snuff. But still there was, and is, something there. So what is a good alternative? I'm thinking perhaps Bohm or Kleiber, or maybe even Furtwangler, though I have reservations about how Furty might do with the music.
Oh, I see now.
