Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199831 in Music
• Released on: 2000-11-21
• Number of discs: 14
• Format: Box set

Customer Reviews

Outstanding.
I myself was wary on whether to buy this box set at first - the offer seemed to good to be true - but in the end I went for it and, boy, I wasn't disappointed and I still am not.

The quality is simply awesome and very well performed by a live audience. I could hear minimal audience noise, which of course is a bonus.

The package comes complete in a box set, which itself is rather neatly done. Each phase of 'The Ring' comes complete with a booklet to give you an overview of the story and truly brings it to life. The artwork, too, is pleasing and cannot be faulted for a bargin of £20.

I could go on but ultimately, if you're looking for a cheap yet first-class version of Wagner's Ring then look no further. Buy it while you still can!

The best 20 quid I have ever spent
When I found this on amazon, I was reluctant to risk buying it; the complete Ring cycle for 20 pounds seemed too good to be true. The fact that the same performance is available on a different label at a slightly higher price only added to the confusion. Was this some low-grade release of an already substandard product? I wasn't expecting much. How wrong I was.

Here's what you get for your twenty pounds: a square box to house the CDs, with pictures of Wagner and artwork depicting scenes from the Ring (the presentation is not what I'd call classy but neither is it wholly unattractive). There are 14 CDs comprising the four operas, housed in four traditional double-sized jewel cases (Das Rheingold has two discs; the others all contain four). Each of the operas has a booklet with a synopsis in English, and while there's no libretto, one can always pick one up from the web.

However, the music is what matters, and I have to say this is a thrilling live performance. There is a minimum of audience noise and excellent quality DDD sound. The conducting and playing are particularly fine, the singers do justice to their roles (even if they are not up to the standard of some of the more well-known names), and the standard of proceedings is really much higher than one would expect from a budget release, even a budget release costing twice as much. Connoisseurs will obviously stick with their Solti or Karajan, but if like me you want a good quality complete Ring and can't afford the best, you will not be disappointed. I particularly recommend this for someone who is looking for their first complete Ring: as far as I'm concerned, if you have the money buy the Solti, but if not there's no need to look further than this one. Twenty pounds? Get it before they change their minds.

Wow.
This is stunning. Worth many times the price. You just can not go wrong with this wonderful performance and stalwart conducting. Best value box set on Amazon, without a doubt. Tremendous.