For each of Talk Classical Top 272 Most Recommended operas, we'll be selecting the most recommended CD versions.
Opera # 1
Most recommended CD Box Set for Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner
Voters:
Solti: 7 votes (Aksel, amfortas, AnaMendoza, ChiTownPhilly, Elgarian, jhar26, Txllxt; also two more late votes: Couchie and DarkAngel)
Keilberth: 2 votes (jflatter, schigolch)
Haitink: 1 vote (MAuer)
Winner with 7 votes out of 10 (70%) among 5 nominees
Georg Solti, Wiener Philharmoniker, Studio, 1958/1962/1964/1965, Decca
Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Georg Solti - 1958(STU)
Orchestra - Wiener Philharmoniker
Wotan - George London
Fricka - Kirsten Flagstad
Loge - Set Svanholm
Mime - Paul Kuen
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Freia - Claire Watson
Froh - Waldemar Kmentt
Donner - Eberhard Wächter (Waechter)
Erda - Jean Madeira
Fasolt - Walter Kreppel
Fafner - Kurt Böhme
Woglinde - Oda Balsborg
Wellgunde - Hetty Plümacher
Floßhilde - Ira Malaniuk
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Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 414 101-2 {3CDS} (1984)ª; Decca(London) 414 100-2 (Cycle) {15CDS}; Decca 455 555-2 (cycle) {14CDS}; Decca 455 556-2 {2CDS} Decca 470 600-2 (The Solti Wagner Collection) {21CDS} (2002)ª; Decca «Originals» 478 0382 {2CDS} (2008)ª
Die Walküre by Richard Wagner performed in GermanConductor Georg Solti - 1965(STU)Orchestra - Wiener Philharmoniker Siegmund - James King Sieglinde - Régine Crespin Hunding - Gottlob Frick Brünhilde - Birgit Nilsson Wotan - Hans Hotter Fricka - Christa Ludwig Gerhilde - Vera Schlosser Ortlinde - Helga Dernesch Waltraute - Brigitte Fassbaender Schwertleite - Helen Watts Helmwige - Berit Lindholm Siegrune - Vera Little Grimgerde - Marilyn Tyler Roßweiße - Claudia Hellmann ------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 414 105-2 {4CDS} (1984)ª; Decca(London) 414 100-2 (Cycle) {15CDS}; Decca 455 555-2 (Cycle) {14CDS}; Decca 455 559-2 {4CDS} Decca 470 600-2 (The Solti Wagner Collection) {21CDS} (2002)ª
Siegfried by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Georg Solti - 1962(STU)
Orchestra - Wiener Philharmoniker
Siegfried - Wolfgang Windgassen
Mime - Gerhard Stolze
Wanderer - Hans Hotter
Brünhilde - Birgit Nilsson
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Erda - Marga Höffgen
Fafner - Kurt Böhme
Waldvogel - Joan Sutherland
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Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 414 110-2 {4CDS} (1984)ª; Decca(London) 414 100-2 (Cycle) {15CDS}; Decca 455 555-2 (Cycle) {14CDS}; Decca 455 564-2 {4CDS} Decca 470 600-2 (The Solti Wagner Collection) {21CDS} (2002)ª
Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Georg Solti - 1964(STU)
Orchestra - Wiener Philharmoniker
Chorus - Wiener Staatsoper
Brünnhilde - Birgit Nilsson
Siegfried - Wolfgang Windgassen
Hagen - Gottlob Frick
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Gunther - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Gutrune - Claire Watson
Waltraute - Christa Ludwig
Woglinde - Lucia Popp
Wellgunde - Gwyneth Jones
Floßhilde - Maureen Guy
First Norn - Helen Watts
Second Norn - Grace Hoffman
Third Norn - Anita Välkki
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 414 115-2 {5CDS} (1984)ª; Decca(London) 414 100-2 (Cycle) {15CDS}; Decca(London) 455 555-2 (Cycle) {14CDS}Decca 455 569-2 {4CDS} Decca 470 600-2 (The Solti Wagner Collection) {21CDS} (2002)ª
Runner-up with 2 out of 10 votes (20%) among 5 nominees:
Joseph Keilberth, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Live, 1955, Testament
Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Joseph Keilberth - 1955(LC)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Wotan - Hans Hotter
Fricka - Georgine von Milinkovic
Loge - Rudolf Lustig
Mime - Paul Kuen
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Freia - Hertha Wilfert
Froh - Josef Traxel
Donner - Toni Blankenheim
Erda - Maria von Ilosvay
Fasolt - Ludwig Weber
Fafner - Josef Greindl
Woglinde - Jutta Vulpius
Wellgunde - Elisabeth Schärtel
Floßhilde - Maria Graf
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Testament SBT2 1390 {2CDS} (2006)ª; Testament SBT 141412 (cycle) {14CDS} (2008)ª
Die Walküre by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Joseph Keilberth - 1955(LI)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Siegmund - Ramón Vinay
Sieglinde - Astrid Varnay
Hunding - Josef Greindl
Brünhilde - Martha Mödl
Wotan - Hans Hotter
Fricka - Georgine von Milinkovic
Gerhilde - Hertha Wilfert
Ortlinde - Gerda Lammers
Waltraute - Elisabeth Schärtel
Schwertleite - Maria von Ilosvay
Helmwige - Hilde Scheppan
Siegrune - Jean Watson
Grimgerde - Georgine von Milinkovic
Roßweiße - Maria Graf
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Walhall «Eternity Series» WLCD 0177 {3CDS} (2006)ª; Testament SBT 41432 (+Tannhäuser - excerpts) {4CDS}
Siegfried by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Joseph Keilberth - 1955(LC)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Siegfried - Wolfgang Windgassen
Mime - Paul Kuen
Wanderer - Hans Hotter
Brünhilde - Astrid Varnay
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Erda - Maria von Ilosvay
Fafner - Josef Greindl
Waldvogel - Ilse Hollweg
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Testament SBT4 1392 {4CDS} (2006)ª; Testament SBT 141412 (cycle) {14CDS} (2008)ª
Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Joseph Keilberth - 1955(LC;Varnay)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Chorus - Bayreuth Festival
Brünnhilde - Astrid Varnay
Siegfried - Wolfgang Windgassen
Hagen - Josef Greindl
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Gunther - Hermann Uhde
Gutrune - Gré Brouwenstijn
Waltraute - Maria von Ilosvay
Woglinde - Jutta Vulpius
Wellgunde - Elisabeth Schärtel
Floßhilde - Maria Graf
First Norn - Maria von Ilosvay
Second Norn - Georgine von Milinkovic
Third Norn - Mina Bolotine
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Testament SBT4 1393 {4CDS} (2006)ª; Testament SBT 141412 (cycle) {14CDS} (2008)ª
Given the special case represented by Der Ring des Nibelungen, we also conducted a vote for isolated operas - results will be provided without details:
Das Rheingold - Solti 3.5 votes, Karajan 0.5 vote
Die Walküre - Karajan 1 vote (mention is made of 1962 Leinsdorf/LSO; 1941 Leinsdorf/Met; and Keilberth first and second versions), 1962 Leinsdorf 1 vote, Solti 2 votes
Siegfried - Keilberth 2 votes (mention is made of Bohm), Solti 2 votes
Götterdämmerung - Solti 2 votes, Keilberth 1 vote, Karajan 1 vote
------------
Opera # 2 - Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde
Bohm: 4 votes (Air, amfortas, Elgarian, jflatter)
Furtwangler: 3 votes (Aksel, schigolch, TxllxT)
Barenboim: 1 vote (MAuer)
Winner, 4 votes in 9 (44.4%), out of 4 nominees
Conductor Karl Böhm - 1966(LC)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Chorus - Bayreuth Festival
{3CDS} (1992)ª; DG «The Originals» 449 772-2 {3CDS};; Decca 478 0279 (10 Operas from the Bayreuth Festival) {33CDS} (2008)ª
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
-------------------------------------
Runner-up, 3 votes in 9 (33.3%), out of 4 nominees
Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler - 1952(STU)
Orchestra - Philharmonia Orchestra
Chorus - Covent Garden
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
Opera # 1
Most recommended CD Box Set for Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner
Voters:
Solti: 7 votes (Aksel, amfortas, AnaMendoza, ChiTownPhilly, Elgarian, jhar26, Txllxt; also two more late votes: Couchie and DarkAngel)
Keilberth: 2 votes (jflatter, schigolch)
Haitink: 1 vote (MAuer)
Winner with 7 votes out of 10 (70%) among 5 nominees
Georg Solti, Wiener Philharmoniker, Studio, 1958/1962/1964/1965, Decca
Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Georg Solti - 1958(STU)
Orchestra - Wiener Philharmoniker
Wotan - George London
Fricka - Kirsten Flagstad
Loge - Set Svanholm
Mime - Paul Kuen
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Freia - Claire Watson
Froh - Waldemar Kmentt
Donner - Eberhard Wächter (Waechter)
Erda - Jean Madeira
Fasolt - Walter Kreppel
Fafner - Kurt Böhme
Woglinde - Oda Balsborg
Wellgunde - Hetty Plümacher
Floßhilde - Ira Malaniuk
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 414 101-2 {3CDS} (1984)ª; Decca(London) 414 100-2 (Cycle) {15CDS}; Decca 455 555-2 (cycle) {14CDS}; Decca 455 556-2 {2CDS} Decca 470 600-2 (The Solti Wagner Collection) {21CDS} (2002)ª; Decca «Originals» 478 0382 {2CDS} (2008)ª
Die Walküre by Richard Wagner performed in GermanConductor Georg Solti - 1965(STU)Orchestra - Wiener Philharmoniker Siegmund - James King Sieglinde - Régine Crespin Hunding - Gottlob Frick Brünhilde - Birgit Nilsson Wotan - Hans Hotter Fricka - Christa Ludwig Gerhilde - Vera Schlosser Ortlinde - Helga Dernesch Waltraute - Brigitte Fassbaender Schwertleite - Helen Watts Helmwige - Berit Lindholm Siegrune - Vera Little Grimgerde - Marilyn Tyler Roßweiße - Claudia Hellmann ------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 414 105-2 {4CDS} (1984)ª; Decca(London) 414 100-2 (Cycle) {15CDS}; Decca 455 555-2 (Cycle) {14CDS}; Decca 455 559-2 {4CDS} Decca 470 600-2 (The Solti Wagner Collection) {21CDS} (2002)ª
Siegfried by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Georg Solti - 1962(STU)
Orchestra - Wiener Philharmoniker
Siegfried - Wolfgang Windgassen
Mime - Gerhard Stolze
Wanderer - Hans Hotter
Brünhilde - Birgit Nilsson
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Erda - Marga Höffgen
Fafner - Kurt Böhme
Waldvogel - Joan Sutherland
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 414 110-2 {4CDS} (1984)ª; Decca(London) 414 100-2 (Cycle) {15CDS}; Decca 455 555-2 (Cycle) {14CDS}; Decca 455 564-2 {4CDS} Decca 470 600-2 (The Solti Wagner Collection) {21CDS} (2002)ª
Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Georg Solti - 1964(STU)
Orchestra - Wiener Philharmoniker
Chorus - Wiener Staatsoper
Brünnhilde - Birgit Nilsson
Siegfried - Wolfgang Windgassen
Hagen - Gottlob Frick
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Gunther - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Gutrune - Claire Watson
Waltraute - Christa Ludwig
Woglinde - Lucia Popp
Wellgunde - Gwyneth Jones
Floßhilde - Maureen Guy
First Norn - Helen Watts
Second Norn - Grace Hoffman
Third Norn - Anita Välkki
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 414 115-2 {5CDS} (1984)ª; Decca(London) 414 100-2 (Cycle) {15CDS}; Decca(London) 455 555-2 (Cycle) {14CDS}Decca 455 569-2 {4CDS} Decca 470 600-2 (The Solti Wagner Collection) {21CDS} (2002)ª
Runner-up with 2 out of 10 votes (20%) among 5 nominees:
Joseph Keilberth, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Live, 1955, Testament
Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Joseph Keilberth - 1955(LC)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Wotan - Hans Hotter
Fricka - Georgine von Milinkovic
Loge - Rudolf Lustig
Mime - Paul Kuen
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Freia - Hertha Wilfert
Froh - Josef Traxel
Donner - Toni Blankenheim
Erda - Maria von Ilosvay
Fasolt - Ludwig Weber
Fafner - Josef Greindl
Woglinde - Jutta Vulpius
Wellgunde - Elisabeth Schärtel
Floßhilde - Maria Graf
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Testament SBT2 1390 {2CDS} (2006)ª; Testament SBT 141412 (cycle) {14CDS} (2008)ª
Die Walküre by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Joseph Keilberth - 1955(LI)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Siegmund - Ramón Vinay
Sieglinde - Astrid Varnay
Hunding - Josef Greindl
Brünhilde - Martha Mödl
Wotan - Hans Hotter
Fricka - Georgine von Milinkovic
Gerhilde - Hertha Wilfert
Ortlinde - Gerda Lammers
Waltraute - Elisabeth Schärtel
Schwertleite - Maria von Ilosvay
Helmwige - Hilde Scheppan
Siegrune - Jean Watson
Grimgerde - Georgine von Milinkovic
Roßweiße - Maria Graf
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Walhall «Eternity Series» WLCD 0177 {3CDS} (2006)ª; Testament SBT 41432 (+Tannhäuser - excerpts) {4CDS}
Siegfried by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Joseph Keilberth - 1955(LC)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Siegfried - Wolfgang Windgassen
Mime - Paul Kuen
Wanderer - Hans Hotter
Brünhilde - Astrid Varnay
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Erda - Maria von Ilosvay
Fafner - Josef Greindl
Waldvogel - Ilse Hollweg
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Testament SBT4 1392 {4CDS} (2006)ª; Testament SBT 141412 (cycle) {14CDS} (2008)ª
Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner performed in German
Conductor Joseph Keilberth - 1955(LC;Varnay)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Chorus - Bayreuth Festival
Brünnhilde - Astrid Varnay
Siegfried - Wolfgang Windgassen
Hagen - Josef Greindl
Alberich - Gustav Neidlinger
Gunther - Hermann Uhde
Gutrune - Gré Brouwenstijn
Waltraute - Maria von Ilosvay
Woglinde - Jutta Vulpius
Wellgunde - Elisabeth Schärtel
Floßhilde - Maria Graf
First Norn - Maria von Ilosvay
Second Norn - Georgine von Milinkovic
Third Norn - Mina Bolotine
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - Testament SBT4 1393 {4CDS} (2006)ª; Testament SBT 141412 (cycle) {14CDS} (2008)ª
Given the special case represented by Der Ring des Nibelungen, we also conducted a vote for isolated operas - results will be provided without details:
Das Rheingold - Solti 3.5 votes, Karajan 0.5 vote
Die Walküre - Karajan 1 vote (mention is made of 1962 Leinsdorf/LSO; 1941 Leinsdorf/Met; and Keilberth first and second versions), 1962 Leinsdorf 1 vote, Solti 2 votes
Siegfried - Keilberth 2 votes (mention is made of Bohm), Solti 2 votes
Götterdämmerung - Solti 2 votes, Keilberth 1 vote, Karajan 1 vote
------------
Opera # 2 - Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde
Bohm: 4 votes (Air, amfortas, Elgarian, jflatter)
Furtwangler: 3 votes (Aksel, schigolch, TxllxT)
Barenboim: 1 vote (MAuer)
Winner, 4 votes in 9 (44.4%), out of 4 nominees
Conductor Karl Böhm - 1966(LC)
Orchestra - Bayreuth Festival
Chorus - Bayreuth Festival
Tristan - Wolfgang Windgassen
Isolde - Birgit Nilsson
Brangaene - Christa Ludwig
Marke - Martti Talvela
Kurwenal - Eberhard Wächter (Waechter)
Melot - Claude Heater
Hirt - Erwin Wohlfahrt
Steuerman - Gerd Nienstedt
Stimme eines jungen Seemanns - Peter Schreier
------------------------------------------------------------------Isolde - Birgit Nilsson
Brangaene - Christa Ludwig
Marke - Martti Talvela
Kurwenal - Eberhard Wächter (Waechter)
Melot - Claude Heater
Hirt - Erwin Wohlfahrt
Steuerman - Gerd Nienstedt
Stimme eines jungen Seemanns - Peter Schreier
{3CDS} (1992)ª; DG «The Originals» 449 772-2 {3CDS};; Decca 478 0279 (10 Operas from the Bayreuth Festival) {33CDS} (2008)ª
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
-------------------------------------
Runner-up, 3 votes in 9 (33.3%), out of 4 nominees
Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler - 1952(STU)
Orchestra - Philharmonia Orchestra
Chorus - Covent Garden
Tristan - Ludwig Suthaus
Isolde - Kirsten Flagstad
Brangaene - Blanche Thebom
Marke - Josef Greindl
Kurwenal - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Melot - Edgar Evans
Hirt - Rudolf Schock
Steuerman - Rhoderick (Rhydderch) Davies
Stimme eines jungen Seemanns - Rudolf Schock
------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact Disc; - EMI CDS 7 47322-8 {4CDS} (1986)ª; EMI CDS 5 56254-2 {4CDS}; EMI «Great Recordings of the Century» CMS 5 67621-2;; {4CDS} (2001)ª; Angel CDC-47321 {4CDS} EMI TOCE 8448/51 {4CDS} (Japan); EMI TOCE 9548-61 {4CDS} (Japan) (1997)ª; Regis Records RRC 4004 {4CDS} (2004)ª; Naxos «Historical» 8.110321-24 {4CDS} (2004)ª; EMI Classics «Historical» 585 8732 {4CDS} (2004)ª; Membran 221921 {4CDS} (2004)ª; Membran 223061 {4CDS} (2006)ª; Brilliant Classics «Opera Collection» 93933 {4CDS} (2009)ª Isolde - Kirsten Flagstad
Brangaene - Blanche Thebom
Marke - Josef Greindl
Kurwenal - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Melot - Edgar Evans
Hirt - Rudolf Schock
Steuerman - Rhoderick (Rhydderch) Davies
Stimme eines jungen Seemanns - Rudolf Schock
------------------------------------------------------------------
ª(year of issue or re-issue)