Esoteric  ESSD-90021-34 (14 discs)

Stereo Hybrid

Classical - Opera

Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen

Wiener Philharmoniker
Sir Georg Solti (conductor)


Decca masterpiece collection vol.3

The reissue of this Decca masterpiece series by ESOTERIC has attracted a lot of attention, both for its uncompromising commitment to recreating the original master sound, and for using hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) technology to improve sound quality. This series marks the first hybrid SACD release of the title that have been mainstays of the catalog since their initial release on LP, until the present digital age of CD. These new audio versions feature newly created DSD master.

The first original recording of Wagner’s “Ring”

Starting with “Das Rheingold” in 1958, followed by “Siegfried” (1962), “Götterdämmerung” (1964), and finally “Die Walküre” (1965), Decca spent a total of 8 years in the studio working to produce the complete collection of the musical drama “Der Ring des Nibelungen”. This grand undertaking was more than just the first full recording of this work. It was also the birth of a timeless masterpiece that has seen neither its value nor enchantment diminish in the 45 years since its completion and initial release.

The ensemble for this recording is nothing short of spectacular. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Georg Solti, who was in his forties at this time, the preeminent Wagner vocalists of the 20th, and acclaimed producer and “avid” Wagnerian John Culshaw, were all brought together to perform this masterpiece. Together they produced a recording full of passion and purpose. This complete collection is the single greatest recording of the “Ring”, allowing listeners to experience the glorious sound of the concert hall in their own home. This recording was also epoch-making for it revolutionized the way opera was recorded.