Stuart Skelton

“The best sounding cycle on the market to date, bar none” was Gramophone’s verdict on Melba’s recording of Der Ring des Nibelungen in the 2004 production by the State Opera of South Australia. The four Wagner operas were released separately in 2006 and 2007. Now comes a Super Audio Stereo and 5.1 Surround-Sound two-disc compilation from this landmark cycle which was proclaimed by countless reviewers around the world as the most exciting sounding Ring. The extensive selection comprises the most popular highlights, guaranteed to thrill any lover of Wagner’s music.

This award-winning Melba Ring announced Music Director Asher Fisch as one of the preeminent Wagner conductors of the present era. Fisch brings his broad early experience in Bayreuth and Berlin with Daniel Barenboim and his comprehensive immersion in Wagner to bear in these beautifully crafted performances. Singers include the magisterial Lisa Gasteen as Brünnhilde, Stuart Skelton, now a leading Heldentenor, as Siegmund, the late Deborah Riedel in full flight as Sieglinde, and John Bröcheler as Wotan.

The Highlights booklet features Melba’s customary luxurious presentation with 127 pages, libretti in German and English, and an insightful essay by Mike Ashman.

‘It went deeper down and reached higher up, it was bigger, broader, nobler and reached out more into the eternal than music as it is commonly understood and interpreted, or as any music than that heard by the great masters, has ever done. It is indeed a world heritage.’ Thus wrote the Labour MP Frederick Pethick-Lawrence after attending the premiere of A World Requiem on Armistice Night 1923, and his statement was typical of the audience reaction on that night.

Thierry Lancino’s vast Requiem is a challenging and eloquent contemplation on human mortality which the composer describes as ‘both an epic fresco and sacred ceremony’. In a paradox which brings the Christian into dialogue with the Pagan, Lancino presents an exploration of Death and Time which is both human and relevant, as well as posing eternal and unanswerable questions. This recording captures a unique and moving event, performed by a stellar cast of artists and France’s leading choir and orchestra.

24-bit, 48 kHz Stereo and Surround Recordings

Thierry Lancino’s vast Requiem is a challenging and eloquent contemplation on human mortality which the composer describes as ‘both an epic fresco and sacred ceremony’. In a paradox which brings the Christian into dialogue with the Pagan, Lancino presents an exploration of Death and Time which is both human and relevant, as well as posing eternal and unanswerable questions. This recording captures a unique and moving event, performed by a stellar cast of artists and France’s leading choir and orchestra.

One of today’s most significant recording cycles continues with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony offering another instalment in their award-winning cycle of Mahler vocal and orchestral works, this time tackling the exquisite and mysterious Das Lied von der Erde. The project’s uncommon critical and commercial success have brought the exceptional conductor-orchestra partnership two Grammy Awards and numerous citations throughout the world. Every release has entered the Top Ten of the Billboard Classical Chart. MTT has distinguished himself as one of the world’s foremost Mahler interpreters, and through his signature performances, as one of the composer’s most compelling advocates. Recently, his achievements were recognised by The Gramophone who named him Artist of the Year.

Not only the music, but the guests on this recording are also impressive: worldwide famous and always mesmerizing baritone Thomas Hampson and tenor Stuart Skelton (who rose to fame singing the great Wagner and Strauss tenor roles). Most fans will be surprised to see the man doing the lower part – immortalized by great singers, such as Brigitte Fassbaender, Kathleen Ferrier and Christa Ludwig – but it is not uncommon nor the first time on record, and Thomas Hampson certainly has the credentials and experience in this role. Since the project began in 2001, the San Francisco Symphony has recorded eight of the nine Mahler symphonies, Kindertotenlieder and the Adagio from the unfinished Tenth Symphony and due to its commercial, critical acclaim and artistic success of the Mahler recording project, the SFS has expanded it to include all Mahler’s works for voices, chorus and orchestra, including a remastering of their earlier recording of Das klagende Lied.

4CDs for price of 3

This is a live performance. Simone Young guided her orchestra and the chorus through famous score in great, irresistible waves of sound while still paying attention to the finest, meticulously rehearsed structural details.

OehmsClassics is now offering the Ring of the Hamburg State Opera conducted by Simone Young in a complete boxed set. The features consist of an elegant box, including a booklet and 14 individual CDs each with the photo motif of the individual editions that have been previously issued by OehmsClassics.