Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful viewing experience
Review: I found this a wonderful viewing experience. This production is one of the greatest operatic productions in the 20th century, and here it is visually and sonically refurbished for DVD release. The staging and direction of this production is always interesting and the level of acting and singing generally reach a very high standard, especially the former. This DVD release has already given me countless hours of great pleasure, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in Wagnerian music drama or indeed opera or stage works in general.
Rating:
Summary: Great Ring cycle
Review: I found this cycle great - wonderful acting and staging and, on the whole, excellent singing. The videography is superb. Great viewing experience!
Rating:
Summary: Splendid production of an operatic masterpiece
Review: I found this DVD production of Wagner's epic Ring Cyle to be hugely enjoyable. It's in many ways a splendid production which keeps the viewer riveted to the drama. On the whole, it's exceedingly well directed, too, even though there're a few minor flaws (which is unavoidable for any production on such a scale). The acting deserves special mention because this production boasts some of the best acting that I've ever seen on the operatic stage, whether in the opera house or on video. The singing is generally very good and every one seems to have given his or her all. I have slight reservations on Boulez's conducting, which is comparatively lightweight when compared with performances by other seasoned Wagnerian conductors. Yet, such an interpretation somehow fits in with the production concept, which is finely realised in the Bayreuth Festival Hall. It all makes an unforgettable viewing/listening experience.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilled by what I see and hear
Review: I found this dvd release to be very enjoyable. Honestly, I know little about the performance history of this opera cycle and the ideology behind Wagner's music dramas. Nevertheless, just like a person new to a piece of drama, I was thrilled by what I saw (and hear). There is certainly some excellent acting and singing on this recording, and the staging is also rather amusing (and dramatically riveting at times). Putting aside some very minor reservations on the direction, I've obtained much enjoyment from these dvds. If this is what modern opera productions is about, I'll sure be venturing more into the opera house in the days to come!
Rating:
Summary: Truly a Musikdrama
Review: I had the great fortune to attend this performance each year from 1977 to 1980 at Bayreuth. I could wittness the complete and utterly transformation of the attendees from hostile outrage in 1977 (including outburst during the performance) to universal acceptance and more than 1 1/2 hour standing ovations after the final performance of Götterdämmerung. This transformation from the most hated 'French' Ring to the production of the century comes from the achievement of staging/directing/conducting of this unique masterpiece as a truly Musikdrama, i.e. an experience wherein the music, the acting and the words are melted together into one solid piece. It is very seldom that Wagner's invention of Leitmotiv (the thought behind the action) is so clearly transformed into acting and viewing. Chereau lets the drama unfold in the Industrial Revolution, Wotan is the undisputed owner of a business empire, his counterpart Alberich represents the lower working class with high ambitions for revolution. Siegried is the nature boy who doesn't really know who he is. When stepping into the high class world of the Gibichungen in Götterdämmerung, he fails because he cannot accomodate for all the tricks and traps of this utterly immoral and selfish society. The same happens to Siegmund when he steps into the world of the well settled and powerfull landowner Hunding.
The acting of every person in this performance is brilliant and so closely tied to the deeper meaning of the whole Ring that I doubt that there will be ever a production that can capture the real message of Wagner's Ring in such clearness - the rise and fall of the ruling class and the role of love and truthfullness in creating a new and better world. This is Wagners most political work and this DVD shows it clearly. If you have seen the Ring before in a traditional performance (like the Met-DVD) you will see a completely different Ring now.
The highly transparent conducting of Boulez in conjunction with the superb acting/singing opens complete new dimensions in understanding and feeling of the Ring.
The video quality might not be the best (it is still very good) and some of the singers might not be prime (such as Gunther and Sieglinde), but - again - this recording is not an opera, it is a Musikdrama!
If you want to enjoy the Ring as a "Gesamtkunstwerk", as a perfect combination of words, music, stage setting and acting - this one is a must for you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent as drama
Review: I have to give this DVD release a 5 star rating for it's great both as a visual and aural experience. I previously didn't know that operatic acting can be so involving. Often, I hear some people saying that classical opera is static, and that acting is almost non-existent on its stages. How wrong (and dated) such views are! I'm actually more a drama lover than an opera lover. But this production is so fulfilling that I can embrace it with all my heart! I believe I'll make more trips to the opera house in the future, too!
Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary production in improved sound and picture
Review: I previously owned a set of this production on VHS. It is, by all counts, an extraordinary production. Even if some of the production concepts look a little gimmicky (but most of them are valid under Chereau's concept), the performace as a whole is so convincing that one can readily overlook the small defects, which are bound to occur in any staging or performance of this momumental work. I'm therefore extremely pleased that the picture and sound qualities have been significantly improved in this newest DVD incarnation. In fact, I've never found the Ring more enjoyable than when watching this marvellous production in this new medium. The cast is pretty first rate (for these times) and the acting is superb. I do find Boulez's interpretation to be slightly less heroic than I would have liked. That said, he gives a very energetic reading of the score and propels the drama forward with considerable power.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!
Review: I really like this DVD set a lot. As some others have written, this brilliant production changes my perception as regards opera in general. Rather than being a boring and staid art form, it can, in the right hands, be the most exciting of all the performing arts. The performers here are superb, in particular Donald McIntyre's Wotan, Gwyneth Jones's Brunnhilde and Peter Hoffman's Siegmund. Magnificent!
Rating:
Summary: Wagner's Music Better than it Sounds
Review: I received this DVD set as a gift in preparation for my attending The Ring in Bayreuth in this. While I was not overly happy with the updated and skewed setting of this production, one can find few faults with the singing and orchestra. The staging technical aspects were awesome !
The choice of no subtitles or English and French translations is very desireable and the text reflected the intent of the lyrics if not word-by-word accurate - making the reading and appreciation that much the better.
Of course, I prefer the Solti recording but, lacking the video to accompany that production, I found this to be an excellent substitute .... and an important asset in understanding the complexity of Wagner's music which gradually unfolds upon the 18th or so viewing of the Ring.
Rating:
Summary: BUYER BEWARE!!!!
Review: I was so excited when I saw this that I immediately ordered it. Then, I thought I had better do some research while I still had time to cancel. I just wanted to write about my recent discoveries of this production to alert people who may not know anything about it and are considering purchasing it. I am sure people will write reviews praising this production and others will slam it. So, before you order, read on. After finding a few things on the web, I determined I had to still look further. Then it dawned on me - this production must be mentioned in the in-depth Ring books I have by Rudolph Sabor, (which are fantastic and available on amazon). I consider Sabor an authority on The Ring. Like other sources I found on the Net, he talks about the musical shortcomings of this Ring, especially the cast of Gotterdammerung. What really caught my eye was his discussion on Boulez's conducting. Sabor claims Boulez does not have the right feeling for Wagner and reduces the orchestra to merely a background ensemble, providing background music, to a drama. This is a grave issue for me. Wagner intended the orchestra to play as big a part in the drama as the lead characters. It is a vital part to this piece and cannot be dismissed nor diminished. Still, these comments did not deter me from wanting this DVD. I can live with vocal shortcomings and presumed I could possibly deal with the orchestral issues. The definitive discussion that made me cancel this order, was Sabor's very in-depth commentary on the visual aspects of the production. THIS IS NOT A CONVENTIONAL RING by any means. Some examples: 1. Wotan wears a black trench coat instead of carrying a spear.
2. Wotan helps Hunding kill Siegmund (moreso than merely removing the power of Siegmund's sword and thwarting Brunnhilde).
3. Wotan actually boxes Brunnhilde's ears during the last act of Walkure.
4. One of the dwarfs (can't remember which one) moves about with 20 Henchmen.
5. The Rhine is turned into a hydroelectric dam type thing.
6. Erda is rolled out onto the stage in Siegfried.
7. Freia is buried under the Gold, which is in large plastic bags.
8. Siegfried does not forge the sword - rather he makes it through the use of a "sword making machine". (This I CANNOT LIVE WITH - the forging is VITAL). There were many many many other examples. Sabor seemed to like the visual side of production, but was very critical of the musical aspects. He said the reaction was very mixed - and that is understandable. I am not trying to deter people from purchasing this - but want to tell people what it entails before they buy it. I applaud new and daring approaches to pieces. However, for my first Ring (I have not seen it live or on video), I want a production that is as close to what Wagner intended.
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