Comments on: The Ring of the Nibelung, ranked act by act (Part 4 of 4) http://dfan.org/blog/2009/08/29/the-ring-of-the-nibelung-ranked-act-by-act-part-4-of-4/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:13:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Zed Largo http://dfan.org/blog/2009/08/29/the-ring-of-the-nibelung-ranked-act-by-act-part-4-of-4/comment-page-1/#comment-17019 Zed Largo Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:03:09 +0000 http://dfan.org/blog/?p=1129#comment-17019 I've only been listening to the ring cycle for a year now and just caught my first live performance. I completely agree with Raul. The closing 20 minutes of Die Walküre are a top highlight for me. Not only do they signal that I will be able to go to the bathroom very soon, but when sung well, Wotan's final monologue bring me to tears every time. Music and singing that is emotionally powerful without being loud and overpowering. Götterdämmerung, Act Two and first scene of Das Rheingold take my next two spots. Götterdämmerung, Act Three finale gets a bit loud and screechy and seems like the 2 minute warning for getting those leitmotifs in. Although I'm relieved that my 5.5 hour stay at the opera house is over, somehow the final bars go by too quickly and leave me unsatiated and wanting more music. Then again, maybe I'm just a sucker for basses and baritones. I’ve only been listening to the ring cycle for a year now and just caught my first live performance. I completely agree with Raul. The closing 20 minutes of Die Walküre are a top highlight for me. Not only do they signal that I will be able to go to the bathroom very soon, but when sung well, Wotan’s final monologue bring me to tears every time. Music and singing that is emotionally powerful without being loud and overpowering.

Götterdämmerung, Act Two and first scene of Das Rheingold take my next two spots.

Götterdämmerung, Act Three finale gets a bit loud and screechy and seems like the 2 minute warning for getting those leitmotifs in. Although I’m relieved that my 5.5 hour stay at the opera house is over, somehow the final bars go by too quickly and leave me unsatiated and wanting more music. Then again, maybe I’m just a sucker for basses and baritones.

]]> By: -Raul http://dfan.org/blog/2009/08/29/the-ring-of-the-nibelung-ranked-act-by-act-part-4-of-4/comment-page-1/#comment-5058 -Raul Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:20:10 +0000 http://dfan.org/blog/?p=1129#comment-5058 I'd have to bump the last act of Die Walküre (hitting only the number 7 on your chart) to my top-3 list, I'm afraid. But I also find the two acts framing the entire cycle to be right at the top. Next, you need to rank all the leitmotifs. I’d have to bump the last act of Die Walküre (hitting only the number 7 on your chart) to my top-3 list, I’m afraid. But I also find the two acts framing the entire cycle to be right at the top.

Next, you need to rank all the leitmotifs.

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