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Der Ring des Nibelungen (complete, CD version) 《尼伯龙根的指环》
Decca (ADD) 455 555-2 (14). Nilsson, Windgassen, Flagstad, Fischer-Dieskau, Hotter, London, Ludwig, Neidlinger, Frick, Svanholm, Stolze, Böhme, Hoffgen, Sutherland, Crespin, King, Watson, Ch. & VPO, Solti
Testament 141 412 9 (14). 1955 Bayreuth recording, cond. Keilberth (details below)
It would be to take the easy option to suggest that the top choice for Wagner’s epic Ring cycle on CD is Solti’s pioneering version for Decca, especially now it is so nicely packaged and relatively inexpensive. Indeed, it is hard to go wrong with that choice, the peak of achievement for the conductor and many of his cast, commanding and magnificent.
Also, readers might also be interested to hear Deryck Cooke’s ‘An introduction to the Ring’, released in conjunction with the Solti Ring, a scholarly lecture, with its riveting discourse demonstrating just how many of the leading ideas in the Ring develop from one another, springing from an original germ (Decca 443 581-2 (2)).
Decca have also reissued Boehm’s fine (1967) Bayreuth Festival set, which captures the unique atmosphere and acoustic of the Festspielhaus very vividly. Birgit Nilsson as Brünnhilde and Wolfgang Windgassen as Siegfried are both a degree more volatile and passionate than they were in the Solti cycle. Gustav Neidlinger as Alberich is also superb, as he was in the Solti set, and the only major reservation concerns the Wotan of Theo Adam in a performance searchingly intense and finely detailed, but often unsteady of tone even at that period. The sound, only occasionally restricted, has been vividly transferred (Decca 478 2367 (14)).
However, Testament have released Joseph Keilberth’s recordings, taken live from the 1955 Ring cycle at Bayreuth, which was the very first recording in stereo, some years before the Decca set, which was recorded in the studio. This earlier set had been languishing in the archives, and it was thanks to the enterprise of Stewart Brown of Testament that finally, after much negotiation, the cycle appeared.
When Wieland Wagner invited Keilberth to conduct the Ring at Bayreuth, he was consciously aiming to present a reading manifestly contrasted with that of Hans Knappertsbusch’s spacious and contemplative version. Keilberth, by contrast, is urgent and passionate, and the thrust of the performance makes the result intensely exciting, inspiring the great Wagnerian singers in the cast to give of their finest. Testament have released the complete cycle at mid-price, and the individual operas are discussed below. However, in the complete boxed set, the first version of Götterdämmerung with the original cast is included and, fine though that is, the cast of the second cycle of the Ring at Bayreuth is even finer – see below.
若将索尔蒂为Decca录制的划时代《指环》版本作为首选推荐,或许是最稳妥的选择——尤其如今该套装包装精美且价格亲民。这套录音堪称指挥与多数主演的巅峰成就,恢弘壮丽,确实难以挑剔。
此外,乐迷或许会对德里克·库克与索尔蒂版同步发行的《指环导聆》感兴趣(Decca 443 581-2 (2))。这部学术性讲座通过扣人心弦的解析,揭示剧中核心动机如何从原始细胞衍生发展,极具启发性。
Decca还再版了伯姆1967年拜罗伊特音乐节现场录音(Decca 478 2367 (14)),生动捕捉了节日剧院独特的氛围与声学效果。比尔伊特·尼尔森的布伦希尔德与沃尔夫冈·温德加森的齐格弗里德比索尔蒂版更具爆发力与激情。古斯塔夫·奈德林格的阿尔贝里希同样出色(与索尔蒂版持平),唯一主要争议在于特奥·亚当饰演的沃坦——尽管演绎深刻细腻,但即便在当时嗓音已显不稳。音质偶有局限,但转制效果鲜活。
然而Testament唱片公司发行的约瑟夫·凯尔伯特1955年拜罗伊特音乐节现场录音更具历史意义。这套早于Decca录音室版本数年的立体声开山之作,经Testament创始人斯图尔特·布朗多方协商才得以重见天日。
当维兰德·瓦格纳邀请凯尔伯特执棒拜罗伊特《指环》时,他刻意追求与汉斯·克纳佩茨布什沉静冥想的版本形成反差。凯尔伯特的诠释充满紧迫感与激情,戏剧张力令全体瓦格纳歌唱家迸发出最佳状态。Testament以中价发行全集套装,其中《诸神的黄昏》包含首轮演出阵容(已属精品),但第二轮阵容更为耀眼——详见下文分剧评述。
Das Rheingold (complete, CD version) 《莱茵的黄金》
Testament (ADD) SBT2 1390 (2). Hotter, Neidlinger, Lustig, Weber, Bayreuth Festival O, Keilberth
Keilberth’s complete recording of the Ring cycle emerges on disc for the first time, half a century late, as a constant revelation. The first astonishing thing is the clarity of the voices and the cleanness of the separation between them, scarcely rivalled by any more recent recordings. Vivid and immediate, the three Rhinemaidens are sharply defined in contrast with each other, with directional effects very clear. It means that the orchestra is relatively recessed, but the atmospheric beauty of the Bayreuth orchestra’s playing is well caught, and the big climaxes come over vividly, as for example Donner’s smiting of the anvil (even though no metallic clattering is conveyed). Another thrilling moment comes in Wotan’s final monologue with the first emergence of the Sword Theme. Keilberth’s conducting throughout is electrically intense, far more dynamic than that of his fellow Bayreuth conductor, Hans Knappertsbusch.
凯尔伯特这套尘封半世纪的《指环》全集录音首度面世便持续带来震撼。最惊人的是声部清晰度与分离度——任何现代录音都难企及:三位莱茵少女音色鲜明各异,方位感极其精准。虽乐队相对后缩,但拜罗伊特乐团音色的氛围美感尽显,唐纳锤击铁砧(尽管缺乏金属碰撞声)等高潮段落依然震撼。沃坦终场独白中"剑之动机"的首次浮现更令人战栗。凯尔伯特的指挥充满电流般的张力,远比同僚克纳佩茨布什动态强烈。
Die Walküre (complete, CD version) 《女武神》
Testament SBT4 1391 (4). Varnay, Hotter, Brouwenstijn, Vinay, Greindl, Bayreuth Festival O, Keilberth
Hans Hotter’s interpretation of the role of Wotan is well known from a number of versions, but here he not only sings with urgency, his voice is in wonderfully fresh condition, perfectly focused. ‘Wotan’s Farewell’ has never been more powerfully presented, with his agony over having to punish his favourite daughter most movingly conveyed. Astrid Varnay as Brünnhilde is similarly moving, and so are Gré Brouwenstijn as Sieglinde and the darkly baritonal Ramón Vinay (Toscanini’s choice as Otello) singing Siegmund, with Josef Greindl massive of voice as Hunding. The end of Act I, when the twins fall into each other’s arms, brings another great orgasmic moment, and the recording, originally made by Decca and now beautifully reprocessed, far outshines in quality the radio recordings of Bayreuth that have appeared on various labels.
汉斯·霍特的沃坦虽有多版传世,但此版嗓音状态极佳且演绎紧迫。《告别》一幕对爱女施罚的痛楚从未如此撼人,阿斯特丽德·瓦尔奈的布伦希尔德同样动人。格蕾·布劳文斯泰因的齐格琳德与男中音质感的拉蒙·维奈(托斯卡尼尼钦点的奥赛罗饰演者)饰唱的齐格蒙德形成绝配,约瑟夫·格莱恩德尔的洪丁嗓音浑厚。第一幕终场双胞胎相拥时的情欲爆发堪称神演,经Decca精心修复的音质远超其他厂牌发行的拜罗伊特广播录音。
Siegfried (complete, CD version) 《齐格弗里德》
Testament SBT4 1392 (4). Windgassen, Kuen, Hotter, Varnay, Neidlinger, Bayreuth Festival O, Keilberth
Fine as the recording of the 1955 Walküre is in the Testament processing, the Siegfried of that year is even more impressive, with even greater weight in the orchestral sound, with the brass and timpani astonishingly vivid. In this section of the Ring cycle that is particularly important, when Wagner more than ever relies on darkened orchestration. The voices are vividly caught too, with a wonderful sense of presence, and Wolfgang Windgassen as Siegfried (also the Siegfried of the Solti cycle) is in gloriously fresh voice, superbly contrasted with the mean-sounding but comparably well-focused tenor of Paul Kuen as Mime. Gustav Neidlinger too is clear and incisive as Alberich, with Josef Greindl darkly majestic as Fafner. The duetting of Varnay and Windgassen as Siegfried and Brünnhilde then makes a thrillingly passionate conclusion in Keilberth’s thrustful reading.
1955年《女武神》已属佳品,但同年《齐格弗里德》更胜一筹——铜管与定音鼓惊人鲜活的厚重管弦音响,在瓦格纳刻意幽暗的配乐中尤为重要。人声录制同样惊艳:沃尔夫冈·温德加森(亦为索尔蒂版齐格弗里德)嗓音清亮饱满,与保罗·库恩饰演的尖刻米梅形成绝妙反差。古斯塔夫·奈德林格的阿尔贝里希锋利清晰,约瑟夫·格莱恩德尔的法夫纳暗沉威严。瓦尔奈与温德加森的二重唱在凯尔伯特激情推动下,将终幕推向炽烈高潮。
Götterdämmerung (complete, CD version of 2nd cycle recording) 《诸神的黄昏》(第二轮演出CD版)
Testament (ADD) SBT4 1433 (4). Mödl, Windgassen, Hotter, Ilosvey, Neidlinger, Greindl, Brouwenstijn, Bayreuth Festival Ch. & O, Keilberth
Recorded in 1955 during the second cycle of the Ring at Bayreuth under Keilberth, this is an important supplement to the complete Keilberth cycle that Testament issued earlier, with arguably two important cast-changes making it even more attractive: Martha Mödl instead of Astrid Varnay, more powerful if less girlish, and Hans Hotter as Gunther certainly finer than Hermann Uhde, who was rested in order to sing in the Bayreuth Fliegende Holländer. Wolfgang Windgassen as Siegfried is again remarkable, not just for his unstrained power but for the moments of tenderness.
Keilberth’s conducting is incandescent, more urgent than Hans Knappertsbusch or Furtwängler, making the big dramatic moments totally thrilling, surging with excitement, with the fulfilment of the final scene movingly caught. The impact is all the greater thanks to the excellent stereo sound obtained by the Decca engineers, even if the string focus can be a little fizzy. As before, words are astonishingly clear.
此版1955年拜罗伊特二轮演出实况,作为Testament早前发行凯尔伯特全集的补遗,两处关键换角更具吸引力:玛尔塔·莫德尔替代瓦尔奈饰演布伦希尔德(虽少少女感但更富力量);汉斯·霍特接替赫尔曼·乌德(转演《漂泊的荷兰人》)饰演的贡特尔更为出色。温德加森的齐格弗里德不仅爆发力惊人,柔情时刻亦令人动容。凯尔伯特的指挥如烈焰般炽热,比克纳佩茨布什或富特文格勒更具紧迫感,终场救赎场景感人至深。Decca工程师打造的优异立体声效(纵使弦乐稍显毛躁)与惊人的台词清晰度,将戏剧冲击力推向极致。
https://115cdn.com/s/swwrsvi3hq9?password=3377&#
Wagner - An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen - Deryke Cooke, Georg Solti, VPO [DECCA]等5个文件(夹)
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