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Wagner operas boxset

22K views 98 replies 20 participants last post by  SixFootScowl 
#1 ·
Hello everyone.
I'm looking for a comprehensive boxset of Wagner operas (not just the Ring). I've found the following options on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Op...=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1343312280&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Oper...=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1343312280&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Co...=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1343312280&sr=1-9

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Wagner-The-Complete-Operas/dp/B000BBQP5C/ref=pd_sim_sbs_m_h__3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-The-Opera-Collection/dp/B00006469R/ref=pd_sim_sbs_m_h__4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Grea...r_1_48?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1343312360&sr=1-48

I'm looking for a collection with nice sound, although not necessarily state-of-the art.
Which one is recommended, from the above or not? The Barenboim, the Solti and the Decca seem to me the most promising.
Best regards, Luís Martins.
 
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#88 · (Edited)


Wagner's Vision (Documents)
About $30 shipped from Amazon.es!

CD 1 and 2 Das Rheingold Clemens Krauss (cond.) 1953
CD 3 Excerpts from early productions of Rheingold and Walkure
CD 4,5 and 6 Die Walkure Hans Knappertsbusch 1958
CD 7 Further excerpts from 1950's productions of Walkure
CD 8, 9, 10 and 11 Siegfried Joseph Keilberth 1953
CD 12 Excerpts from other productions of Siegfried (from 1904 to 1960)
CD 13, 14,15 and 16 Gotterdammerung Rudolph Kempe 1960
CD 17 Excerpts from Gotterdammerung (all from 1950s' productions)
CD 18,19 and 20 Tristan und Isolde Von Karajan 1952
CD 21 and 22 Excerpts from other productions of Tristan from the '20s to the '50s
CD 23, 24 and 25 Lohengrin Lovro Von Matacic 1959
CD 26 Excerpts from Lohengrin 1950s and 1960s
CD 27 and 28 Der Fliegende Hollander Wolfgang Sawallisch (cond.) 1959
CD 29 Excerpts from Der Fliegende Hollander from the '40s and '50s.
CD 30, 31, 32 and 33 Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg Hermann Abendroth 16.7.1943
CD 34, 35, 36 and 37 Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg (again!) Von Karajan 1951
CD 38 (if you've still got the puff) Excerpts from Der Meistersinger 40s and 50s
CD 39, 40 and 41 Tannhauser Andre Cluytens 1955
CD 42 and 43 Tannhauser (abridged) Karl Elmendorff 1930
CD 44 Excerpts from Tannhauser and Lohengrin 1904 - 1956
CD 45, 46, 47 and 48 Parsifal Hans Knappertsbusch 1951
CD 49 and 50 Excerpts from Parsifal 1927 - 1958
 
#90 ·
Janowski's Pentatone Wagner Cycle....

Presto UK has the complete boxset, but it looks like they just collected the individual releases together, still currently has a 15% Discount.

Best to wait a few months till end of year December boxset sale at Presto UK or black Friday on Amazon, that will be your best price if you are a buyer.....remember these are SACD hybrid so price will still be high

If you want Wagner in HD sound, you may find much better performances in Blu-Ray remasters provided by Universal (DG & Decca). They are releasing the Bayreuth Canon slowly.

Test the performances before anything...
 
#92 · (Edited)


This has in my opinion the Ring with the best sound quality. I streamed excerpts of both Janowski rings in Spotify and found the Dresden had more detail in the instruments. I want to buy it in the new Sony individual remasters.

But maybe I don't because I'm really satisfied with my Böhm Bayreuth ring and could listen all my life to that 25€ bargain.
 
#93 ·
This has in my opinion the Ring with the best sound quality. I streamed excerpts of both Janowski rings in Spotify and found the Dresden had more detail in the instruments. I want to buy it in the new Sony individual remasters.

But maybe I don't because I'm really satisfied with my Böhm Bayreuth ring and could listen all my life to that 25€ bargain.
I have that Wagner set, but mostly just listen to the Sawallisch Ring. However, I have toyed with purchasing the Bohm Ring. If I find a good enough deal used, I may.
 
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