Thanks for such a thoughtful response.

May I join you in the dilettante corner (with all the reservations about my limited understanding that that implies), and wholeheartedly agree with you? The example you quoted is a clincher, isn't it? And it perfectly demonstrates how destructive it can be to cling to every element of a theory that may be generally or broadly useful in its basic principles, but can only be taken so far. I mean, I'd by no means want to throw out the Jungian babies (the notion of the collective unconscious and of the archetype, say), along with the Jungian bathwater; but much of the rest does, for me, obfuscate rather than clarify. Or at least, as far as I understand it - which isn't far.

To tell the truth, I gained far more from reading John Culshaw's Ring Resounding. Not only did it send me back to the music, again and again (his enthusiasm was so infectious), but also it turned my vague wish to own the Solti set into something more like a need (still unsatisfied, except for highlights).

I think I like the one that is generally regarded as the least interesting Ring opera the most - Das Rheingold. It's not as long winded and more action packed than the other three. I kinda enjoy Die Walkure also. I only listened to the other two once (I have the complete Solti cycle on cd). It's an awesome piece of work, I'm sure - but maybe it's all a bit over my head and I won't blame my own lack of patience or understanding on Wagner. I can manage to listen to the whole cycle when I limit myself to one act per day though - gotta try that again someday.

But Das Rheingold I really like. I even have it on DVD in a (thank God) traditional production friom Otto Schenk with James Levine conducting - very good. I said "thank God a traditional production" because otherwise I would probably have been done with The Ring for good. It's already a complicated/demanding work enough without some smart ass producer feeling the need to force his no doubt nonsensical interpretation of the thing down our throats.

I had to smile in recognition when I read this - because Rheingold is by far the one I most frequently listen to, too, and for pretty much the same reason as you. The truth is that for long stretches of time, I'm just not up to the task of absorbing The Ring properly, but Rheingold somehow stands apart from the rest - you can listen to it as a separate, more or less self-contained unit, in a reasonable length of time, can't you? So for me, it's more a case of recognising my own frailty and lack of stamina but wanting a bit of Ring-flavoured excitement, rather than really thinking of it as a 'favourite' section.

Received the MET calendar last weekend... three performances (2 of Rheingold and one of Die Walküre) have been designated "non-cycle" performances and are thus spared the 'Wagner surcharges.' [Gee... thanks for throwing us a bone, MET.]

I couldn't help but notice that the schedulers reserved nearly 6 hours for Götterdämmerung. () Even WITH two healthy half-hour intermissions, that's still minutes shy of a 5 hour "Twilight." That's closing in on Goodall-grade s...l...o...w.

Someone who's been exposed to Levine in this work could let me know... is this usual for him?!

Depending on the construction of the instrument on which they are used,strings will usually have either a ball or loop at one end to attach the string to the instrument. String is the vibrating element that is the source of vibration in string instruments,such as the guitar,harp,piano and members of the violin family. Opera is a drama set to music consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes a commercial browser a building where musical dramas are performed.
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marita

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Today (09-21-08) I attended a meeting of the Wagner Society of Southern California. A DVD of a documentary which appeared recently on European television was played. This program was about the Beyreuth Festival and had archival footage of Wagner's funeral, Hitler attending the festival and the attention lavished on him when he was there, and most amazing of all parts of a performance of Parsifal from 2006 which featured a Nazi theme including many Nazi flags and banners with swastikas on them which are in fact banned in Germany and for which special permission from the German government was needed in order to use them. This was a production from ARTE. Unfortunately the program was in German and we had a translator who would occasionally stop the program and provide some interpretation. I studied German in college but certainly am not conversant in German. If anyone is interested in the Beyreuth Festival this program is a must.

Böhm,Keilberth,Krauss,Knappertsbusch and Janowski are my top 5 ring cycles.Haitink also conducts superbly but he is let down by his singing cast.

The Ring Cycle - possibly the greatest single musical composition? (assuming all four opera constitute one work)

Ther ring of wagnner definetly has been classic masterpiece.And his work always was distinctive and marverlous.splendid otrestra and hamorney as well.But I really think the works of his were extremenly long sometimes which not necissary.But the work still give me too much.howerver I haven't finished yet.

Whew! I just read through this whole thread at one sitting - maybe the equivalent of half a Wagner opera? It was really a learning experience, drawing on the listening, reading, thinking, the experiences of the participants.
This is my first day of membership, and already, I enjoy this forum. So many forums (on all manner of topics) just turn into snarling sessions. A hearty bravo to all of you! Or, better still, more appropriate, a repeat of Anna Russell's "Analysis"?

Thanks! You mean like "If you prefer conductor X's version of the Ring Cycle, then you must be some sort of untutored bumpkin Philistine who has no true understanding of the stab of Wagner's artistic vision"? You'll have to go to the person whom 007 and 'Q' answers to to get that kind of talk.Yup, Anna Russell is a bit of fun. When she passed away not long ago, the Wagner Society of New York newletter eulogized her.