Hey MegaDocalex, thanks for uploading this, any chance you'll do the rest of the opera? I see you have the CDs in the video. I agree this may be the best version of the overture. I heard it called the most "extreme" music Wagner ever wrote, the Bacchanal for this opening. I also love the grand march later on along with the Pilgrim's chorus and little pastoral horn tune. The music is just so beautiful. And for my money Solti is the by far the greatest Wagner interpreter of the past century, and this is indeed a wonderful recording. In fact when I was looking for something to listen to here on UA-cam, I was going over Solti videos and almost had to despair and cry both tears of joy and sorrow in appreciation of the incredible sound Solti was able to get out of the orchestra. He always had such control of the music and gets an unbelievably grandiose, but still clean and rich sound out of the musicians. The clarity and nuance, dynamic range, and sheer drama of his recordings is truly extraordinary and very remarkable. He is greatly missed by me for one. I also like Carlos Kleiber(Best Beethoven's 5th ever) and Fritz Reiner(best Beethoven's 7th ever). I should mention Bernstein, for me he's the best Eroica. I'm not so sure about Beethoven's 9th though. Hmmm.... maybe Solti, but it's very different from most "standard" recordings. But that's usually what makes him so great. I guess my problem is that it's actually a little too perfect and comes across as somewhat dry and technical, especially in the Scherzo. Claudio Abbado is one of the greatest living conductors. For me, his recording of Schubert's Symphonies(especially the 8th, unbelievable dynamic contrasts) with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe are the reference recordings. Update: Unfortunately Mr. Abbado has since passed away, but his wonderful music remains with us forever as does Sir Georg's, Mr. Solti's. I also wish to express my great sorrow over the loss of another true Maestro, Mr. Colin Davis, his Symphonie Fantastique of Berlioz is incredible along with the Requiem by Mozart. I also really like his rendition of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. I guess for what it's worth, just my two cents, I like Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Muti and maybe Valery Gergiev as the greatest living conductors. But I haven't really kept up with the new conductors very well and need to get back into listening some more. This was a great way to start, with one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written, and one of my favorites. Thanks
AMAZING MY FAVORITE VERSION... AMAZING OPERA I COULD LISTEN TO THIS FOR HOURS AND STILL BE MOVED EVERY TIME... WAGNER WAS A MAN AHEAD OF HIS TIME THEY DON'T MAKE LIKE THIS ANY MORE !!!!!!!!!
Interesting set. Toscanini certainly for the "melodic" Beethovan (6 & 7), Solti for PARTS of pieces (I can always point to a 16-bar section of Solti and say "That's the ultimate rendition of that phrase",) Bernstein for full, modern renditions, Von Karajan for the amazing Brandenburgs and much of pre-1800 music plus some amazing Wagner and Strauss, and Furtwangler (at least if you have some of the WWII era recordings) of absolutely everything German. His 5th and 9th plus his Wagner are supreme.
Hey MegaDocalex, thanks for uploading this, any chance you'll do the rest of the opera? I see you have the CDs in the video. I agree this may be the best version of the overture. I heard it called the most "extreme" music Wagner ever wrote, the Bacchanal for this opening. I also love the grand march later on along with the Pilgrim's chorus and little pastoral horn tune. The music is just so beautiful. And for my money Solti is the by far the greatest Wagner interpreter of the past century, and this is indeed a wonderful recording. In fact when I was looking for something to listen to here on UA-cam, I was going over Solti videos and almost had to despair and cry both tears of joy and sorrow in appreciation of the incredible sound Solti was able to get out of the orchestra. He always had such control of the music and gets an unbelievably grandiose, but still clean and rich sound out of the musicians. The clarity and nuance, dynamic range, and sheer drama of his recordings is truly extraordinary and very remarkable. He is greatly missed by me for one.
I also like Carlos Kleiber(Best Beethoven's 5th ever) and Fritz Reiner(best Beethoven's 7th ever). I should mention Bernstein, for me he's the best Eroica.
I'm not so sure about Beethoven's 9th though. Hmmm.... maybe Solti, but it's very different from most "standard" recordings. But that's usually what makes him so great. I guess my problem is that it's actually a little too perfect and comes across as somewhat dry and technical, especially in the Scherzo.
Claudio Abbado is one of the greatest living conductors. For me, his recording of Schubert's Symphonies(especially the 8th, unbelievable dynamic contrasts) with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe are the reference recordings.
Update: Unfortunately Mr. Abbado has since passed away, but his wonderful music remains with us forever as does Sir Georg's, Mr. Solti's.
I also wish to express my great sorrow over the loss of another true Maestro, Mr. Colin Davis, his Symphonie Fantastique of Berlioz is incredible along with the Requiem by Mozart. I also really like his rendition of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.
I guess for what it's worth, just my two cents, I like Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Muti and maybe Valery Gergiev as the greatest living conductors.
But I haven't really kept up with the new conductors very well and need to get back into listening some more.
This was a great way to start, with one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written, and one of my favorites.
Thanks
Very powerful version, but my favorite is the very epic, intense and emotional transcendance interpretation of Herbert Von Karajan!
Quelle lumière!! Sublime!!
Comentarii in veci, nu! Dar, multumiri din plin YouTub!
AMAZING MY FAVORITE VERSION... AMAZING OPERA I COULD LISTEN TO THIS FOR HOURS AND STILL BE MOVED EVERY TIME... WAGNER WAS A MAN AHEAD OF HIS TIME THEY DON'T MAKE LIKE THIS ANY MORE !!!!!!!!!
Interesting set. Toscanini certainly for the "melodic" Beethovan (6 & 7), Solti for PARTS of pieces (I can always point to a 16-bar section of Solti and say "That's the ultimate rendition of that phrase",) Bernstein for full, modern renditions, Von Karajan for the amazing Brandenburgs and much of pre-1800 music plus some amazing Wagner and Strauss, and Furtwangler (at least if you have some of the WWII era recordings) of absolutely everything German. His 5th and 9th plus his Wagner are supreme.
Oh my goodness!
I agree with this list, but I'd like to mention two other Maestro: Carlos Kleiber and Claudio Abbado :)
Hochhimmel jauchzeit..
Tannhauser, a salvific music.
Teodora Stoica Ti: