4/5 Ring as family saga - very different
  by pointone (Bournemouth UK)
This Weimar production changes the Ring from a mythological drama as conceived by Wagner into a family saga.

Staging is minimal and claims to include all the props mentioned in Wagner's score and usually omitted (Fricka's rams cart, Grane represented by a women dressed in black, etc): plus obscure elements (once understood they are all relevant to the family saga concept).

The preludes to each of the operas accompany a silent drama filling in the gaps to flesh out the family saga concept. Also Hagen appears as a baby in Rheingold, and in Siegfried as a young man in a substantial silent part. They all start with various versions of the Norns' music that Wagner composed prior to the final version at the beginning of Gotterdammerung.

This is an ensemble version of the Ring and parts are switched between singers from opera to opera, resulting in a varying quality of singing.

The best performances are by Christine Hansmann (Fricka), Erin Caves (Loge and Siegmund) Kirsten Blanck (Sieglinde), Frieder Aurich (Mime) and Johnny van Hal acting a rather one dimensionsal Siegfried.

There are three Wotans and two Alberichs. In Rheingold Mario Hoff is Wotan and Thomas Mowes (Alberich), and they reverse their roles in Siegfried where Mowes develops a terrible wobble (surely not vibrato!) in his lower register. Renatus Meszar is the Walkurie Wotan and a fine Hagen. These singers succeed by a combination of acting and singing, rather than vocal performance alone.

Catherine Foster sings Brunnhilde throughout and gives arguably the best performance in the set with a fine clear voice that shines through the orchestra.

The acting throughout is good.

The somewhat understated conducting by Carl St. Clair works fine for this performance and the Blu Ray 1080i video and sound are fine.

CONCLUSION - For some Wagner lovers this will be a Ring too far, but if you like a challenge and buy into the radically different family saga dramaturgy this as an absorbing and possibly unique production (albeit with flaws) where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

A trial rental could be a good idea before deciding to purchase.


1/5 Ugly to watch, musically interesting, I'll give it away if you'll take it
  by Classic Opera Lover
I bought this because it looked interesing. Very strange, definitely low budget production. Hard to get past Das Rhinegold. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone to watch. Listening is quite nice. The sound is great. Some singers have a very annoying wide vibrato. Wagner is probably turning in his grave, more like spinning.