Wagner: Das Rheingold

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
First performed as a cycle of four operas in 1876, Wagner's visionary Der Ring des Nibelungen is one of the greatest works of art. Centred around a ring which offers its bearer ultimate power and the attempts of various people to acquire it, the Ring cycle explores the relationship between love and earthly power and the themes of yearning and loss, all within a setting of meieval legend. The Prologue Das Theingold depicts the theft and subsequent surrender of the ring forged from the Rhinemaidens' gold by the Nibelung dwarf Alberich.

REVIEW
"The orchestra's playing, bolstered by marvelous performances by brasses and woodwinds, is consistently on an aptly Wagnerian scale, and Zweden paces a performance of grandeur and gravity."
--Joseph Newsome, Voix-des-arts.com, November 4, 2015

Classics Today: Artistic Quality 9 Sound Quality 9
".It makes you hungry for the rest."

".The recording is clean and clear, with no artificial anything. Van Zweden's approach is closest in memory to Herbert von Karajan's-intimate and chamber-like, a family drama that happens to be played out in magical, mythological terms. Also like Karajan, van Zweden takes his time (at 2 hours and 33 minutes, this is on the longish side) and offers seamless segues between scenes."

".The Hong Kong Philharmonic is not Berlin or Vienna or the Met, but it has nothing to fear-the playing throughout is smooth and handsome.

".The back and forth between the fine, unexaggerated Fricka of Michelle De Young and the remarkable, surprising Wotan of Matthias Goerne is natural and familiar, and Goerne is the surprise of the performance. His experience and expertise as a Lieder singer comes in very handy in this opera: his interacting with Loge and his cajoling of Mime and Alberich all are textually and dynamically right-on. The bottom of the voice sounds remarkably rich, and while the top notes are brighter than we normally hear, he has authority."

".this new set gives a wonderful overall view of this opera, and at a remarkable price." --Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com, November 6, 2015

Disc 1
1: Scene 1: Vorspiel
2: Scene 1: Weia! Waga! Woge, Du Welle!
3: Scene 1: Hehe! Ihr Nicker!
4: Scene 1: Garstig Glatter Glitschiger Glimmer!
5: Scene 1: Lugt, Schwestern! Die Weckerin Lacht in Den Grund
6: Scene 1: Nur Wer Der Minne Macht Entsagt
7: Scene 1: Der Welt Erbe Gewann' Ich Zu Eigen Durch Dich
8: Scene 1: Haltet Den Rauber!
9: Scene 2: Einleitung
10: Scene 2: Wotan! Gemahl! Erwache!
11: Scene 2: So Schirme Sie Jetzt
12: Scene 2: Sanft Schloss Schlaf Dein Aug'!
13: Scene 2: Was Sagst Du Ha! Sinnst Du Verrath
14: Scene 2: Du Da, Folge Uns Fort!
15: Scene 2: Endlich Loge! Eiltest Du So
16: Scene 2: Immer Ist Undank Loges Lohn!
17: Scene 2: Ein Runenzauber Zwingt Das Gold Zum Reif
18: Scene 2: Hor', Wotan, Der Harrenden Wort!
19: Scene 2: Schwester! Bruder! Rettet!
20: Scene 2: Wotan, Gemahl, Unsel'ger Mann
21: Scene 3: Verwandlungsmusik
22: Scene 3: Hehe! Hehe! Hieher! Hieher! Tuckischer Zwerg!

Disc 2
1: Scene 3: Schau, Du Schelm!
2: Scene 3: Nibelheim Hier: Durch Bleiche Nebel
3: Scene 3: Nehmt Euch in Acht! Alberich Naht
4: Scene 3: Die in Linder Lufte Weh'n Da Oben Ihr Lebt
5: Scene 3: Ohe! Ohe! Schreckliche Schlange
6: Scene 3: Dort, Die Krote, Greife Sie Rasch!
7: Scene 4: Da, Vetter, Sitze Du Fest!
8: Scene 4: Wohlan, Die Nibelungen Rief Ich Mir Nah'
9: Scene 4: Gezahlt Hab' Ich; Nun Lasst Mich Zieh'n!
10: Scene 4: Ist Er Gelost?
11: Scene 4: Lauschtest Du Seinem Liebesgruss?
12: Scene 4: Lieblichste Schwester, Susseste Lust!
13: Scene 4: Gepflanzt Sind Die Pfahle Nach Pfandes Mass
14: Scene 4: Weiche, Wotan, Weiche! Flieh' Des Ringes Fluch!
15: Scene 4: Soll Ich Sorgen Und Furchten
16: Scene 4: Halt, Du Gieriger! Gonne Mir Auch Was!
17: Scene 4: Nun Blinzle Nach Freias Blick!
18: Scene 4: Heda! Heda! Hedo! Zu Mir, Du Geduft!
19: Scene 4: Bruder, Hieher! Weise Der Brucke Den Weg!
20: Scene 4: Abendlich Strahlt Der Sonne Auge
21: Scene 4: So Gruss' Ich Die Burg
22: Scene 4: Rheingold! Rheingold! Reines Gold!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Conductor: Jaap Van Zweden

Number of Discs: 1

Orchestra: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

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