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Celebrating Wagner: The Met's New Ring

• Das Rheingold (Oct. 9, 2010)

  

  Das Rheingold
  (Oct. 9, 2010)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Levine; Terfel, Croft, Owens, Blythe
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

  Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 53 min.

  Robert Lepage’s landmark staging of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, unveiled over the course of the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, was the first new Met production of the complete cycle in more than 20 years. Combining state-of-the-art technology with traditional storytelling, it brings Wagner’s vision into the 21st century. In this first part of t...

• Die Walküre (May. 4, 2011)

  

  Die Walküre
  (May. 4, 2011)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Levine; Voigt, Westbroek, Blythe, Kaufmann, Terfel, König
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

  Approximate running time: 4 hrs. 20 min.

  Robert Lepage’s landmark staging of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, unveiled over the course of the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, was the first new Met production of the complete cycle in more than 20 years. Combining state-of-the-art technology with traditional storytelling, it brings Wagner’s vision into the 21st century. With Die Walküre, the s...

• Siegfried (Nov. 5, 2011)

  

  Siegfried
  (Nov. 5, 2011)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Luisi; Voigt, Hunter Morris, Terfel
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

  Approximate running time: 4 hrs. 25 min.

  Robert Lepage’s landmark staging of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, unveiled over the course of the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, was the first new Met production of the complete cycle in more than 20 years. Combining state-of-the-art technology with traditional storytelling, it brings Wagner’s vision into the 21st century. Jay Hunter Morris is th...

• Götterdämmerung (Feb. 11, 2012)

  

  Götterdämmerung
  (Feb. 11, 2012)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Luisi; Voigt, Morris, König, Meier, Paterson, Harmer
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

  Approximate running time: 4 hrs. 45 min.

  Robert Lepage’s landmark staging of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, unveiled over the course of the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, was the first new Met production of the complete cycle in more than 20 years. Combining state-of-the-art technology with traditional storytelling, it brings Wagner’s vision into the 21st century. The four-part epiccomes...

Celebrating Wagner: Classic Telecasts

• Lohengrin (Jan. 10, 1986)

  

  Lohengrin
  (Jan. 10, 1986)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Levine; Marton, Rysanek, Hofmann, Roar, Macurdy
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

  Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 43 min.

  Wagner’s Romantic opera demands singing actors who can truly inhabit their parts, and that’s just what we have here. Is it possible for a Knight of the Holy Grail to look more enticing than Peter Hofmann? No wonder Elsa (Eva Marton) falls in love at first sight. Marton’s heroine is innocent, but she is also a passionate, real-life young woman—which...

• Die Meistersing... (Dec. 8, 2001)

  

  Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
  (Dec. 8, 2001)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Levine; Mattila, Heppner, Polenzani, Morris, Allen, Pape
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

  Approximate running time: 4 hrs. 51 min.

  Wagner’s enchanting Nürnberg has perhaps never looked as marvelous as in this production by Otto Schenk, with sets designed by Günther Schneider-Siemssen. James Levine’s conducting is as authoritative as it is affectionate, and the orchestra, the chorus, and the all-star cast which could not be equaled anywhere else in the world—respond with a rive...

• Tannhäuser (Dec. 20, 1982)

  

  Tannhäuser
  (Dec. 20, 1982)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Levine; Marton, Troyanos, Cassilly, Weikl, Macurdy
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

  Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 9 min.

  When this gorgeous production opened audiences gasped, then heartily applauded. Otto Schenk and Günther Schneider-Siemssen magnificently invoked the world of Wagner’s opera, from Venus’s erotic lair to the world of medieval pageantry. Within this stunning setting the cast of great singing actors are truly at home. Richard Cassilly is the tortured T...

• Tristan und Iso... (Dec. 11, 1999)

  

  Tristan und Isolde
  (Dec. 11, 1999)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Levine; Eaglen, Dalayman, Heppner, Ketelsen, Pape
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

  Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 58 min.

  The utter timelessness of Wagner’s masterpiece is superbly captured in Dieter Dorn’s production, designed by Jürgen Rose. It strips away the usual visual ballast from the drama to reveal the searing emotional truth at its core. Under James Levine’s probing conducting the great Met orchestra is a central character in the story. Ben Heppner and Jane ...

Celebrating Wagner: Legendary Radio Broadcasts

• Der Fliegende H... (Dec. 30, 1950)

  

  Der Fliegende Holländer
  (Dec. 30, 1950)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Reiner; Hotter, Varnay, Svanholm, Nilsson
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

  Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 13 min.

  Sometimes legendary performers exceed their reputations to produce an operatic event for the ages. This was one of those afternoons when it all came together. The blazing intensity starts with conductor Fritz Reiner and the Met orchestra in the famous overture. And with two of the greatest singing actors of the 20th century—Hans Hotter and Astrid V...

• Parsifal (Apr. 14, 1979)

  

  Parsifal
  (Apr. 14, 1979)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Levine; Ludwig, Vickers, Weikl, Shinall, Talvela
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

  Approximate running time: 4 hrs. 6 min.

  Hearing either Jon Vickers or Christa Ludwig, two of the most riveting singing actors of their time, in Parsifal would be cause for celebration. This recording presents both of these great artists in their only joint broadcast of Wagner’s mystical opera, with James Levine bringing his own special magic to the occasion, making it indeed a Parsifal f...

• Tristan und Iso... (Feb. 23, 1963)

  

  Tristan und Isolde
  (Feb. 23, 1963)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Solti; Nilsson, Dalis, Liebl, Cassel, Hines
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

  Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 19 min.

  This is the only Met broadcast the legendary Birgit Nilsson sang with conductor Georg Solti. Wagner’s revolutionary music drama requires performers of exceptional vocal and dramatic abilities, and since Nilsson’s 1950 Met debut in the role, there was no soprano who could match her as the fiery Irish princess. Isolde is forced into marrying the agin...

• Die Walküre (Feb. 17, 1940)

  

  Die Walküre
  (Feb. 17, 1940)

  Composer: Richard Wagner
  Librettist: Richard Wagner
  

  Leinsdorf; Flagstad, Melchior, Huehn, Lawrence, Branzell
  
  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

  Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 16 min.

  This is the only Met Walküre broadcast before World War II with the legendary Kirsten Flagstad as Brünnhilde—an overwhelming portrayal that continues to grip listeners today. Fortunately, this uncut Walküre has a cast for the ages, all in prime form. Lauritz Melchior and Marjorie Lawrence are Siegmund and Sieglinde, twins who fall passionately in l...