Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen [special remastered edition with extra DVD, Blu-ray & Book]

"It comes as something of a shock to realise that this pioneer recording of Wagner's Ring is some fifty years old. Decca have now issued it again in a luxury package. It includes the complete recording and some supplementary CDs. To these it adds a reprint of producer John Culshaw's account in Ring Resounding of the process by which the massive tetralogy was committed to disc. You will also get a complete text of Deryck Cooke's analysis of the music, complete libretti, translations and other essays. The supplementary material constitutes three substantial volumes and the result, packaged together with a fourth volume containing the recording itself, is issued to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Wagner's birth and the 100th anniversary of the birth of the conductor. It also anticipates the spate of reissues from other companies which may be expected as the recordings themselves come out of copyright.

The playing of the Vienna Philharmonic is superb; even the sometimes acidic tone of the oboes is acceptably characterful. Culshaw in his book says that the orchestra purchased a new set of timpani especially for the recording, and they have all the punchiness that one could possibly want. The Viennese horn players have a marvellous sense of nobility which makes the entry of the Wagner tubas - played by the second set of hornists - at the beginning of the second scene of Rheingold something very special.

Decca showed great courage in meeting the enormous expense of making this recording in the first place, and the results fully justify their leap of faith. It remains as superb a performance now as it did when it was first issued, and in terms of sheer sound alone need fear no later rivals." (MusicWeb)

NOTE: Outer cardboard slip cover has a minor tear on the corner