Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen 14CD+2DVD edition

Der Ring des Nibelungen, recorded at the Vienna State Opera and conducted by Christian Thielemann. Wagner’s operatic epic of intrigue, power, and impending doom has rarely sounded as contemporary as it does under the baton of Christian Thielemann. That is hardly a surprise, since no musician has devoted himself to the composer as he has. As principal conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden, Thielemann is not only Wagner’s successor, he is also widely recognised as the foremost expert on the composer’s works. With his Vienna Ring Thielemann has set the bar very high. The audio release of the Vienna Ring is accompanied by two DVDs in which documentary film director Eric Schulz follows Thielemann during rehearsals and recounts the history of The Ring with excerpts from several legendary productions. The DVDs also include commentary from musicians and experts, discussing Wagner’s influence and shedding light on the complexities of the tetralogy’s plot.