Late Night Musings For Insomniac Wagnerites

[joggerjayne]

When I listen to The Ring, it's mostly the 1950 Scala version from Wilhelm Furtwangler.

Kirsten Flagstad is utterly, utterly exquisite as Brunhilde. She makes up for the ropey sound quality. It's completely my favourite recording of the ones I've heard.

And sometimes, like tonight, I want to sit back and chill, and understand the words. Which means, of course, the Reginald Goodall recording. Is it the only one in English? I think so. It's quite expensive, isn't it. Wasn't it recorded by EMI, and then Chandos bought the master tapes, or something?

It's not quite right in English. But hey ho, I'm feeling lazy tonight. Goodall is my standby version.

Rita Hunter is a very good Brunhilde. In fact, she's great. Greatness is Hunter. But genius is Flagstad.

Almost at the end of The Walkyrie. That's singular, isn't it. The title refers only to Brunhilde, not to the collective group of Walkyrie.

Waffling on a bit here.

[Buenchico]

>>>Waffling on a bit here

Well I can't argue with that bit (but, as a superb 'waffler' myself, I can't object to it either!).

However your post seems to be sure to destroy your reputation as a natural 'clubber', who likes nothing more than listening to the pounding beats of Brighton's nightspots ;-)

Wagner, eh? And the Ring Cycle as well! I admit to enjoying the more popular elements of it (such as 'The Ride of the Valkyries' from Act III of 'Die Walküre') but I've never been sure as to whether I could handle the whole thing in one go. Even if I could, I'd probaby seek out a recording with a great conductor (such as Wilhelm Furtwängler) rather than looking for eminent soloists.

This video has nothing to do with Wagner (as its Johann Strauss) but, having established that you enjoy classical music, I hope that you'll enjoy it. (It's one of my favourite Youtube videos):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR5lkt9hJ8c

[joggerjayne]

Gah, my reputation destroyed?

I didn't realise I had one. :0/

You're right about conductors, Chris. From that point of view, the Barenboim version seems well regarded.

In the past, I've had the Solti and the Karajan versions. But I have adored Kirsten Flagsted for ever. I've got lots of recordings of Kirsten singing Wagner, but there wasn't a recording of an entire Ring performance until the Scala recording came out a few years ago.

I'd seen in advance that it was due for release. The week it came out, I got it from HMV. It was recorded live in 1950, so the sound quality is not as good as other recordings, but Kirsten Flagstad is simply wonderful.

Thanks for the clip, Chris. Hope you're keeping well.

[joggerjayne]

Kirsten ... (the Immolation Scene ... like James Bond movies, Wagner's Ring ends with a big fire) ...

[joggerjayne]

Sorry about Kirsten's stereotype hat. I think she'd just been on a hen weekend.

[jamall]

For Insomniac I suggest to find on Youtube something like Rain Music. It will make you sleepy quickly. I also like falling asleep while listening to Chinese Relaxing Music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIHtQUnpl5I

[joggerjayne]

I'm not really an insomniac.

Just an Opheliac, maybe, because I like Emilie Autumn. As well as Wagner.

You can get an iPad app which has relaxing sounds. One of them is the hum you get on an aircraft. Some of us find that relaxing. For others, it triggers off all sorts of anxiety.