Thread: Your favorite moment in DER RING?

Hey there, I'm calling out to the Wagnerites (Wagnerians?) to share their favorite moments in Der Ring and which version they prefer. Love to know what truly stands out for you guys.

For me it's probably Wotan's Farewell at the end of Die Walkure. Although Brunnhilde's Immolation is a very close second! I've been listening over and over to the Hans Hotter/Solti version. I LOVE that supercharged orchestral sound Solti conjures up right after: "Denn Einer nur freie die Braut, der freier als ich, der Gott!" (For one alone winneth the bride; one freer than I, the god!)

Though I understand Hans Hotter was past his prime in this recording (he could've fooled me!).

Just today I got a chance to hear a more "youthful" Wotan as sung by Rene Pape. HOLY COW! This guy is AWESOME:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY5wD...eature=related

Anyways...

So what's your single favorite stand-out moment?

The finales of Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung are up there, but my favourite is probably the music for Wotan and Loge's journey to Nibelheim.

in Walkure when Brunnhilde tells Sieglinde that she is pregnant with the best hero ever, Sieglinde replies "Magnificent Victory!" with a really phenomenal short piece of melody... it's that same line that is repeated at the end of Gotterdammerung when valhalla is burning. magnificent victory

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

I like the way ComposerOfAvantGarde replies to threads, sometimes really AvantGarde like herself !

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My favorite is Die Zauberfeuermusik (Die Walküre)

Originally Posted by Crudblud

Wotan and Loge's journey to Nibelheim.

Yep this for me. Das Rheingold was my first foray into Wagner and after an opera education that had consisted of numbers pieces filled with da capo arias, my jaw hit the floor. "This is opera?!"

The last 10"

Originally Posted by Il_Penseroso

I like the way ComposerOfAvantGarde replies to threads, sometimes really AvantGarde like herself !

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My favorite is Die Zauberfeuermusik (Die Walküre)

Hehe. Himself. Thanks anyway. Refer to me as a female if you want. I kind of like it actually.

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

Hehe. Himself. Thanks anyway. Refer to me as a female if you want. I kind of like it actually.

Ooops ! Sorry !

But if you got to be an AvantGarde, it's naturally excpected for you !

Originally Posted by Il_Penseroso

Ooops ! Sorry !

But if you got to be an AvantGarde, it's naturally excpected for you !

Please use "she" and "her" etc. when referring to me. Use "it" if you really feel the need to.

Originally Posted by rgz

Yep this for me. Das Rheingold was my first foray into Wagner and after an opera education that had consisted of numbers pieces filled with da capo arias, my jaw hit the floor. "This is opera?!"

What, you learnt of nothing but Handel then?

When it all ends.

The rhinemaidens, particularly their screams and lament

From each opera:

Rheingold: Prelude



Walküre: O hehrstes Wunder!



Siegfried: Heil dir, Sonne!



Götterdämmerung: Brünnhilde's Immolation

Couchie --

OH MY GOODNESS! Jessye Norman must be the greatest Sieglinde ever! Simply PHENOMENAL!

Thanks for those vids!