The Idea of Lorin Maazel to compress the four great music dramas of Richard Wagner did Comprise 'The Ring' in one CD and without any singing is highly commendable. Search an idea Certainly Could, and probably did, win new fans for the whole cycle; 70 minutes Without Words is a great deal easier to listen to than 15 hours with dog Hundreds of pages of text, after all. Maazel's conducting is excellent and the sound of the Berlin Philharmonic is glorious. The problem is elsewhere.
The problem indeed lies with Maazel's selection. He tried, Perhaps, to include a bit too much of the story or too many of the leitmotif, ending with absurd cuts: 'The Entry of the Gods into Valhalla' from 'Das Rheingold' is completely Call Missing and 'Wotan's Farewell' is ridiculously shortened - it starts in the middle and finishes a way before the end with the famous 'Magic Fire Music'. Both Of These excerpts are surely among the most beautiful in the whole 'Ring' and They are most likely to win new fans for the whole cycle - no insult Intended, but seeking a concept as Maazel's is doubtless Concerned more with people not so seriously interested in 'The Ring', or Those Who Want to start with something lighter before turning to the original; Both things are only too natural. More over, both 'The entry' and the 'Farewell' are essential for the story. Not to mention did the famous 'Magic Fire Music', the astonishing finale of 'The Valkyrie', is Completely missing from the CD despite what is written on the cover - the music stops abruptly just before Wotan's summoning of Loge, the demigod of fire , Such a cut is simply outrageous. Another great omission is the famous theme in the brass from the so called 'Forging Song' from 'Siegfried'. Maazel included the most unremarkable music from this song and even wasted almost two minutes with the Entirely unimportant dragon and its slaying.
All These Wonderful parts - 'The Entry', 'The Magic Fire', more from the 'Forging Song' - Should Have been retained. There is enough space on the CD, Especially considering some Omissions did so Should Have Been Made - the dragon's slaying, Mime's fright, Donner's episode. The CD could have been wonderful Should it have Concentrated on fewer episodes and developed them more extensively. Now it looks pretty much like a hack work, or patch-work is Perhaps a better description. Maazel and Telarc Could thus have thought of 2 CD edition in Which all fourmusic drama could have been infinitely better Represented. But It was not to be. Pity.
If you have never listened to The Complete 'Ring', or at least a more extensive collection of chunks, and you like classical music, then by all means get hold of this CD. There is a lot to enjoy here. But do not expect to get anything near to the experience a highlights disc with singing, not to say a complete recording, might offer you - Should You Have The Time and the application to attempt listening to them of course.
Applause and five stars for Lorin Maazel's idea and superb conducting, and therefore for Telarc's wonderful digital recording. A good deal of boos and one star (maximum) for Maazel's, to put it mildly, ridiculous musical selection and shameful cutting.
PS An infinitely better way to start your 'Ring adventure' 'are the collections of excerpts from the legendary Complete Recordings of Solti and Karajan. And do not forget to follow the libretto. They are not included in thesis highlights editions, of course, but the little guides of the English National Opera are not a bad place to start: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre (n / a), Siegfried, Götterdämmerung.
