Solti: The Wagner Opera Collection (Limited Edition) [21-CD Box Set with Bonus Unreleased CD]

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Music reviews of Solti: The Wagner Opera Collection (Limited Edition) [21-CD Box Set with Bonus Unreleased CD]

Music Review: SUPERB WAGNER COLLECTION
Rating: 5 Stars

Der Fliegende Hallander: I think this is the weakest among the 6 operas in the collection. But the orchestral playing is simply fabulous. Listen to the opening where the Chicago orchestra plays with knife-edge precision. Klemperer's Philharmonia (much recommended and praised by Gramophone) sounds like mud in comparison in the opening bars. Interestingly enough, the Penguin Guide rates the Solti more highly than the Klemperer. The vocal performance here is excellent, nothing exceptional.

Tannhauser: This is a simply superb performance. Christa Ludwig is incredible in the role of Venus. You have to listen to her to believe it!! Her top notes are secure and warm and her voice is incredibly beautiful and thrilling - the tension and excitement are always there. She is the biggest reason for the success of this set. Helga Dernesch provides a superb contrast to Christa Ludwig. Dernesch timbre is different - brighter and more 'angelic'. She is the other big reason for this tannhauser's success. Rene Kollo has a thrilling voice, he gives an outstanding performance that has been unfairly criticized. Victor Braun also has a rich and thrilling voice.

Lohengrin: Jessye Norman's voice here is ravishingly beautiful. It is a warm, noble, light in timbre yet rich. Her top register is incredible. Her characterization has been criticized but I don't care, I love Jessye Norman's voice. Domingo provides a beautiful tone (as usual) for Lohengrin. Unidiomatic? Again, I don't care. His voice is beautiful. Randova and Minsgern are outstanding as Ortrud and Telramund. Hans Sotin and Fischer-Dieskau sing gloriously as the King and the herald. You can't ask for anyone better.

Tristan and Isolde: This is the more controversial set in this collection. Contrary to what the Gramophone says, I think this is an outstanding set (the Penguin Guide agrees with me by awarding this set 3 stars). But Birgit Nilsson is splendid as Isolde. Here she is younger and her voice is really cutting. Critics say she is 'hard'. But I think her voice is simply thrilling.In vocal terms, her voice is simply thrilling and wonderful to hear. Fritz Uhl is underrated by critics. In the studio he is up to task. His Act 3 for instance, is sung with just as much security as Windgassen in the Bohm set. Tom Krause, Aronold van Mill and Ernst Kozub are in superb voice - all rich and wonderful to listen to. The orchestral playing is superb - sumptuous and full - you won't get so much orchestra anywhere else - this is unique to this Tristan! This was recorded just one year after Nilsson's triumph at the Met - and shows her voice in pristine condition. Her voice her is more like a sharp sword. As her career progressed, her voice grew in warmth (although no less powerful). It is fascinating (and thrilling) to hear her voice when younger. Birgit Nilsson alone is worth this set!!

Die Meistersingers: This is a glorious set. Everyone in the cast provides first class singing - all with rich voices. From a vocal point of view, this set is absolutely gorgeous. From the characterization point of view, this set is less characterful. Many of the principals do not delve deeply enough into their character. But in my view, their vocal splendour makes up for their less insightful characterization. Solti takes a 'linear' approach to the score, tempi flows smoothly. There is less of the sometimes 'vertical' stop-go approach that he applies in his recordings. The Chicago Chorus is outstanding beyond belief. I was flabbergasted by the excellence of the choral work at the end of Act 2. You just have to listen to it.

Parsifal: Parsifal is a slow score. I think Solti goes too slow at times - the performance tends to sag in Act 1 again. But he has a superb cast - the singing is incredible. Christa Ludwig's Kundry is again superlative - her Kundry is one of the high points of this set. The Flower Maidens are simply gorgeous - their singing is also one of the high points of this set - Lucia Popp and Kiri Te Kanawa among them!!!! The orchestral playing is superb (as usual). Gottlob Frick is incredible - he is in superb voice, rich and sonorous, amazing considering he was 64 when this recording was made!! He was older than Hans Hotter and there's no hint of strain in his voice!! Fischer-Dieskau can be counted on not only for his rich baritone voice but his superb characterization. Hans Hotter is luxury casting. Rene Kollo is thrilling as Parsifal - his voice is rich and rings out wonderfully. The weakness in this is is Solti's sometimes too slow conducting - it sags from time to time (thankfully not too often). But it is more than made up by the incredible cast on this recording. The choral work is fabulous.

In sum, I think this is an outstanding opera collection. In every set, there is something to look forward to. Many of the best Wagnerian singers are here - Christa Ludwig, Helga Dernesch, Birgit Nilsson, Hans Hotter, Gottlob Frick, Rene Kollo etc. Highly recommended.

Description of Solti: The Wagner Opera Collection (Limited Edition) [21-CD Box Set with Bonus Unreleased CD]

Discs 1-3 Der Fliegender Holldnder

Discs 4-6 Tannhduser

Discs 7-9 Lohengrin

Discs 10-13 Tristan und Isolde

Discs 14-17 Die Meistersinger von N|rnberg

Discs 18-21 Parsifal

Bonus CD: The Birth of an Opera (Solti in rehearsal of Tristan und Isolde)

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