Albert Dohmen

Launching a new complete Wagner cycle comprising all Wagner’s 10 major operas, these were all recorded over a period of 4 years in the Philharmonie in Berlin and all use the same forces of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester and Chor. Conducted by Marek Janowski and performed by a top line up of soloists, this is unique recording feat in a complete Wagner series.

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Friedenstag is at once Richard Strauss’ (1864-1949) last operatic collaboration with his librettist Stefan Zweig and his first with Joseph Gregor. The themes of the opera – set in the mid 17th century are about the highest humanitarian and liberal ideals – themes Zweig devised from the factual events from the Thirty Years War.

The challenge that faced Strauss and Gregor was how to express this message in the Third Reich, where such well intentioned themes could be hijacked by the Nazis as reflecting the regimes ideal and proclaiming it ‘the first Nazi opera’. Zweig by the time this work was composed had fled Germany, but remained on cordial terms with Strauss, and it has been argued that of all their operatic collaborations this is the one where Zweig’s lofty ideals are most obvious. However, a combination of Strauss’s music which descends to an empty jingoistic martial style in places, and the abandonment of Zweig’s words on reconciliation in place of a long chorus of rejoicing and triumphalism – music to Goebel’s ears no doubt. The work stands apart from the canon of Strauss’s operas, and has only a tenuous hold on the repertoire – an example of lofty ideals sacrificed on the alter of political expediency. Gregor steered the composer towards less controversial operatic themes such as Daphne.

Rare repertoire

‘Sinopoli's recording has magnificent, committed and full-throated choral singing, and this makes the final scene sound as Fidelio-like as Strauss undoubtedly wished. Albert Dohmen, who has sung Wotan but here sounds at times more like Alberich, is a powerful Commandant.’ Gramophone, December 2001

Running time: 150 minutes

‘This set is essential’ concluded Gramophone of the Ring cycle from the home of Wagner performance, the Bayreuth Festival, when this 2008 production was issued complete. Among the most distinguished Wagner conductors of our age, Christian Thielemann leads a performance of masterful pacing and burning conviction that features richly detailed interpretations from many of today’s most experienced interpreters of their complex and glorious roles. Now distilled on to two discs, here is The Ring in a nutshell.

Conducted by Christian Thielemann, this performance was the sensation of the 2010 Baden-Baden Festival. A one-act masterpiece inspired by Greek mythology, it is a dense, jagged cry for justice and vengeance. With its powerfully expressive chords, spooky waltz rhythms and mad dance of triumph, it shakes the audience to the core. Herbert Wernicke’s legendary production for the Bayerische Staatsoper stands out for its clear lines, classical structural elements and striking colour contrasts. Linda Watson, one of the great Wagnerian sopranos of today, superbly masters her role debut as Elektra, one of opera’s most demanding roles.

Extra features: Cast gallery

Running time 1 hour 40 mins

Region Code All regions

Picture format 16:9 Anamorphic

Sound format 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS

Menu languages EN

Subtitles EN/FR/DE/ES

Das Rheingold is the first part of Wagner's epic four-opera cycle – a work of extraordinary scale. Based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas, it is a work that follows the struggles of gods, heroes, mythical creatures, and the eponymous magical Ring that grants dominion over the entire world. The music is richly textured, and grows in complexity as the cycle proceeds - Wagner wrote for an orchestra of gargantuan proportions, including a greatly enlarged brass section with new instruments invented especially for the work. The Bayreuth Festspielhaus was constructed for this work to be performed in, with a specially designed stage that allows singers voices to blend with the huge orchestra without straining - essential for such long performances.

Recorded live at the Bayreuth Festival in 2008, this production stars a host of international stars including Michelle Breedt, Albert Dohmen, and Hans-Peter König. Christian Thielemann, one of the most soughtafter conductors in the world, takes the baton with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra.

‘Whatever one's take on the production, Mr. Thielemann drew a probing, radiant and exhilarating musical performance from this orchestra of dedicated instrumentalists’ New York Times