ASHER FISCH WAGNER Der Ring des Nibelungen Highlights

01/09/2012
Michael Southern
Pittwater Life (Australia)

One of the great Australian recording feats came in 2004 with the recording to CD of Australia’s first Ring cycle in Adelaide. Six years of planning went into the South Australian Opera production after many years of wishing. Melba Recordings on the other hand had to make what was virtually a snap decision: it was a grant from the Commonwealth Government that brought the decision to a head, and a recording that was generally hailed around the world for its artistic and sound quality was created. .... a two CD set has been issued of the Asher Fisch conducted cycle with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the State Opera of South Australia. The highlights are well selected from the opening bars through some of the most majestic parts of the cycle to the end, and they show that this recording was indeed a great achievement by anybody’s standards. The Super Audio CDs do full justice to the artists, and to Fisch’s direction and energy. The orchestra and cast are simply superb and it is worth noting that the complete set is still available from Melb.

There is incidentally a very good libretto included with this 2CD set.