Notes and Editorial Reviews
Also available on Blu-ray
The most famous, the most performed, the most thrilling, and the most recorded opera cycle in music history. A unique and exclusive package, on multi-set DVD of the most successful Ring Cycle production of the 21st century. Filmed at the world-famous Metropolitan Opera House in New York, in high definition - the award winning Robert Lepage production.
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen
Das Rheingold · Die Walküre · Siegfried · Götterdämmerung & Wagner’s Dream – The making of the Ring
Starring in alphabetical order:
Patricia Bardon ·
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Stephanie Blythe · Richard Croft · Mojca Erdmann · Wendy Bryn Harmer Jonas Kaufmann · Hans-Peter König · Waltraud Meier · Jay Hunter Morris · Eric Owens Iain Peterson · Franz-Josef Selig · Gerhard Siegel · Bryn Terfel · Deborah Voigt Eva-Maria Westbroek
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
James Levine · Fabio Luisi
Directed by Robert Lepage
Also included is Wagner’s Dream, a frank and revealing documentary about the five-year making of the Met’s new Ring that has already been acclaimed as “simply the best documentary about the Met ever made” (Film Journal), “a must-see for any creative soul” (Cinespect) and “destined to be one of the classic documentaries about opera” (Philadelphia Inquirer).
NTSC GH8
STEREO: PCM / SURROUND: DTS 5.1
Picture Format: 16:9 · Filmed live in High Definition
Subtitles: German/English/French/Spanish/Chinese
A Metropolitan Opera High-Definition Production
R E V I E W S:
"[Die Walküre:] Tenor Jonas Kaufmann is a magnetic Siegmund . . . [Sieglinde, Eva-Maria Westbroek] is theatrically entrancing. Terfel's singing is so godlike . . . [Siegfried:] the stage apparatus is at its most atmospheric here, and Morris' . . . Siegfried is the best-acted on video; likewise Terfel's Wotan . . . [Götterdämmerung:] Brünnhilde (Voigt) is visited by her sister Waltraute -- sung by the great Wagnerian mezzo-soprano Waltraud Meier, who knocks the operatic tension up a big notch . . . Voigt maintains the tension throughout Act II. Morris' Act III death scene is utterly mesmerizing . . ." -- David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer [9/11/2012]
". . . [Owens as Alberich] arguably owned this production of "Rheingold". He put forth a dazzling effort both vocally and theatrically and virtually stole the show . . . The remaining cast of "Rheingold" sings quite beautifully, with Bryn Terfel (Wotan) in particular standing out . . . The orchestra, under James Levine, sounded terrific--full, rich, and romantic . . . [Voigt as Brünnhilde] emerges front and center as the real heroine of the Ring . . . there was a sincerity and passion in her delivery . . ." -- Terry Ponick, Washington Times [9/19/2012] Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Hans-Peter König (Baritone),
Richard Croft (Tenor),
Patricia Bardon (Mezzo Soprano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Eva-Maria Westbroek (Soprano),
Bryn Terfel (Bass Baritone),
Jonas Kaufmann (Tenor),
Mojca Erdmann (Soprano),
Waltraud Meier (Mezzo Soprano),
Jay Hunter Morris (Tenor),
Gerhard Siegel (Tenor),
Eric Owens (Baritone),
Stephanie Blythe (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
James Levine,
Fabio Luisi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1853-1874; Germany
2.
Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Eric Owens (Baritone),
Gerhard Siegel (Tenor),
Bryn Terfel (Bass Baritone),
Richard Croft (Tenor),
Hans-Peter König (Baritone),
Stephanie Blythe (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1854; Germany
3.
Die Walküre by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Stephanie Blythe (Mezzo Soprano),
Hans-Peter König (Baritone),
Richard Croft (Tenor),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Bryn Terfel (Bass Baritone),
Eva-Maria Westbroek (Soprano),
Jonas Kaufmann (Tenor)
Conductor:
James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1856; Germany
4.
Siegfried by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Eric Owens (Baritone),
Hans-Peter König (Baritone),
Richard Croft (Tenor),
Patricia Bardon (Mezzo Soprano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Bryn Terfel (Bass Baritone),
Mojca Erdmann (Soprano),
Jay Hunter Morris (Tenor),
Gerhard Siegel (Tenor)
Conductor:
Fabio Luisi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1871; Germany
5.
Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner
Performer:
Eric Owens (Baritone),
Jay Hunter Morris (Tenor),
Waltraud Meier (Mezzo Soprano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Richard Croft (Tenor),
Hans-Peter König (Baritone)
Conductor:
Fabio Luisi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1861-1874; Germany
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 8 Customer Reviews )
My gosh; it blows me away! April 16, 2013
By Stanley J. See All My Reviews
"I am not a Ring lover, but these performances capture my imagination and help me to appreciate what Wagner has attempted to create. Have seen other performances of the Ring (live and recorded). Like this one for clarity in acting, beauty in singing, fascinating settings and powerful orchestra wonderfully led."
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Fantastic! December 13, 2012
By William N. (Baldwinsville, NY) See All My Reviews
"I saw all 4 productions in the movie theaters, and Die Walkure, live at the Met, in April, 2011. Wagner's Ring is impossible to create as he might have imagined. There have been brilliant realizations in the past and of course, some that were terrible. This one is superb. Nothing is perfect, but this Ring is never less than captivating, visually wonderful, and beautifully sung. The whole concept of the "machine" is quite remarkable and absolutely fascinating. I thought it was very creative, clever, and that it worked as a total production. The projections were amazing, the singers were really involved, and enough, already, with objections to singers! Try to sing these roles yourself and you'll begin to back off. I found Voigt to be wonderful, youthful, beautiful, and exciting. Terfel was a bit removed from the whole affair, but never less than acceptable-- that's not right -- he was wonderful -- just sometimes acted as if he wanted to be done with it and go get a beer. Blythe was mindblowing and Kaufman the best tenor singing and acting ever. We caught Levine at one of his last performances at the Met, but Luigi was just wonderful in the other productions in HD. If you are not familiar with this production, you will be thoroughly impressed by it at this price. Enjoy..."
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It's BIG, very BIG November 11, 2012
By Chris Mier (Melbourne, Victoria) See All My Reviews
"If you’ve seen the recent Met Ring Cycle, either live (lucky you) or perhaps in the Cinema as I did all the way from Melbourne Australia, you’ll know what to expect with this release. For you the question becomes, do you want to own it at home? You might want to consider that carefully if you only have a small screen TV or other versions on DVD already. While I love my Wagner some my views might be corrected technically by a purist, but almost everything else about this cycle if what you’ll love or hate, not what’s particularly good or because it is good. If you haven’t seen any of it, it’s BIG, VERY BIG! It perhaps not that different sound wise to how Rings have been produced musically in the last 20 years and musically it’s very solid and professional. Players and singers don’t miss much; certainly you won’t hear any flat notes. They all have emotion on tap and they take you with them. Debra Voight, Bryn Terfel, Eric Owens and a surprisingly wonderful Jay Hunter Morris stand out for me, there “mojo” is working (can I use the word mojo in an opera review?). Everyone else is good to very good and often shine for time when their role is highlighted. 2011 technology makes it the best live sound you’ll get at the moment. Bless James Levine, Fabio Luisi as often as you want too! But the Staging and the Set is what makes this production very different. It’s huge and technically remarkable. Things are projected onto it; a little bird, the Rhine for the maidens, a ring of frightening fire or the set simply revolving and evolving before your eyes. I have 2 other versions on DVD that I love but this one is a visual feast which lifts an already wonderful cast even higher. You might like or hate Le Pages monster machine – I love it, but it’s not for the traditionalists. I’m glad they released it so quickly and that I rushed our and bought it."
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