An electrifyingly dramatic Wagner

A reissue of Wagner's complete Der Ring des Nibelungen from the 1998 Bayreuth Festival is a dramatic joy

Composer: Wagner
Repertoire: Der Ring des Nibelungen (complete)
Artists: Soloists; Bayreuth Festival/Daniel Barenboim
Rating:   4/5 
Genre: Vocal/Orchestral
Label: Warner 2564 62091-2 (14 CDs & bonus DVD)

In some ways the true star is the theatre itself: the Bayreuth Festpielhaus’s acoustic gives wonderfully focused, resonant support. These are stage recordings of Harry Kupfer’s 1988 production, and the sense of drama never lets up, with outstanding singing from Tomlinson’s Wotan, plus a radiant Brünnhilde from Anne Evans. Barenboim’s electrifying conducting secures a fabulous orchestral response.