Two Walküres

[Peter]

I wonder if anyone might have had an opportunity to compare the very recent
Walk�re CDs from Gergiev and Thielemann? If so, could you please give us
your impressions.

[wagnerfan]

On Wed, 22 May 2013 21:07:59 -0700, "Peter" <reply to newsgroup only>
wrote:

>I wonder if anyone might have had an opportunity to compare the very recent
>Walk�re CDs from Gergiev and Thielemann? If so, could you please give us
>your impressions.

Haven't heard the Thielemann - the Gergiev has stupendous sound, a
great Siegmund (Kaufmann), some good singers in other roles but the
whole thing deflates due to the dramatically inert conducting. Wagner
Fan

[Mike Scott Rohan]

On Thursday, May 23, 2013 9:51:31 AM UTC+1, Jay Kauffman wrote:
> On Wed, 22 May 2013 21:07:59 -0700, "Peter" <reply to newsgroup only>
>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >I wonder if anyone might have had an opportunity to compare the very recent
>

> >Walküre CDs from Gergiev and Thielemann? If so, could you please give us

>
> >your impressions.
>
> Haven't heard the Thielemann - the Gergiev has stupendous sound, a
>
> great Siegmund (Kaufmann), some good singers in other roles but the
>
> whole thing deflates due to the dramatically inert conducting. Wagner
>
> Fan

I take the point, but I think better of the conducting, although I agree it does sag in Act II particularly; but the rest makes up for that in its warmth and richness. For me this is one of the best Walkures since the 1960s, faults and all. I like Mark Elder's concert version, but it sounds calulated by comparison and much less well cast. Haven't heard Thielmann yet, but I suspect he will sound brasher and ultimately colder.


Cheers,

Mike

[t.j.l...@googlemail.com]

I haven't heard the Thielemann, but I agree with Jay about the Gergiev. The sound is vg, the singers also vvg, a very enjoyable set all round, one of the best Walkures to have been issued in the recent past.
Tim