Wagner: Die Walküre

08/08/2006
Bryan Leech
Acoustic Sounds (US)
star onstar onstar onstar onstar on

The first installment of the complete Ring cycle to be released progressively over coming months, then in late 2007, as a complete set. This is a live recording of Australia's first fully staged Ring cycle. Hailed unanimously by international critics as a triumphant performance, it is sung by an almost exclusively Australian cast, and Australia has produced more than its share of the world's great singers.
 On this first instalment, we can certainly look forward to the remaining treats to come. This performance rates among the 'greats'. The singing is uniformly superb and whilst the orchestra, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, may lack an international name, it does a mighty job, providing a performance that in no way lets down the total production, helping to keep this Walküre among the best. The performance is matched by rich SACD sound - warm, full, smooth, with great clarity and perfect balance between all the forces. The Ring could not get a better introduction to SACD.