Wagner: Rienzi | Richard Wagner, Heinrich Hollreiser, ...

Wagner: Rienzi | Richard Wagner, Heinrich Hollreiser, ... | triumphal music

classical music:

Wagner: Rienzi

	Wagner: Rienzi Richard Wagner, Heinrich Hollreiser, ... EMI Classics, 1999 average customer review:based on 11 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A wonderful discovery!

Coming from listening to practically all of Wagner's other known works---from Kempe's Lohengrin to Solti's Ring---I have to admit that Rienzi was a wonderful discovery, even a surprise.

Upon first listening, I can understand why Wagner would not want to look back on this work. It is far from his later music dramas; this is French grand style opera, meaning set pieces with lots of opportunity for marches, dances, etc. Portions of the first act would not even qualify as arias, but rather, the superposition of voice on orchestra. And at first listening, I was not that impressed.

Now after several hearings, I can't help but find the utter beauty and elegance of the work. Never mind that the approach is conventional; Wagner did not set out to break rules here yet, just gain recognition. But the seed of his genius is very evident. There are many beautiful selections, including the tender and moving "Allmacht'ger vater" and of course the marvelous overture.

What is important, of course, is how the work is treated in this recording. I can only say I am very pleased. The star for me is Siv Wennberg as Irene, whose glorious voice is present in every phrase she sings. The other performers are quite good as well, and the choral singing is powerful. The orchestral performance is very good and the conducting shows a good understanding of the work and its purpose.

The only weakness in the work is Kollo as Rienzi. My complaint is simply a matter of his style, not his capability. Kollo is a competent tenor, but his timbre is just not pleasing to me. He comes off as someone who doesn't have the vocal power needed for this work. Maybe I am unfairly (and subconsciously) comparing him to the master: Lauritz Melchior (whose Allmacht'ger vater was my first hearing of Rienzi and instantly catapulted him to my favorite tenor of all time).

I am generally pleased with the CD set and give it 5 stars despite Kollo's weaknesses. Everything else is just too good, and as mentioned, Kollo's vocals are really a matter of taste. The observation that this is somehow a "digestible" Wagner for other audiences may be true. Coming from the other side, where I've been convinced of Wagner's mastery, Rienzi was actually a pleasant revelation.

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triumphal music

Rienzi is Wagner's first opera of note, written when he was a young man trying to establish himself as a great composer. It was extremely popular all across Europe. It was based on a story about the intrigues of 14th Cent. Roman politics. Its scenario included a 40 minute ballet scene, marches, processions, triumphal scenes and thunderous melodrama. It was six hours long.

The original six hours have been edited to three hours in this powerhouse production. Wagner's other operas have powerful moments, but they are relieved by slow and quiet movements to convey the rising and falling of the dramatic story. The relentless high-pitched intensity of this edition is often wearing.

For collectors of Wagner this is a must, even if just as a curiosity. Those listeners who are interested in passionate and thunderous music will find plenty of it in this bombastic extravaganza.

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Surprising discovery

I have to confess that I bought this Rienzi more to complete my knowledge of Wagner's work than for real interest, but at the end it has become one of my favorites records. It is a completely different Wagner for those who first hear his "big" hits, but Hollreiser, cast (more that anyone Rene Kollo, a great singer) and Dresden Staatksapelle manage to capture me with this magical music.
Totally recommended.

Very good

I own this recording in LP in was very happy to get it on cd.
The performers are top notch. The conducting is excellent.
BTW, Rienzi is (unfortunately) known mostly for its popular overture.
I have listened to many recordings of the overture, mostly they are taken out of context and the result is a fanfare that can be played right after Shostakovich' Festive Overture...
Nontheless, I mention the overture because it is simply outstanding in this release. The only other recording (of the overture) that comes close is of George Szell with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Highly recommended.

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What a powerful performance

This is a marvelous Opera, away from the typical Wagner compositions. You'll barely recognise it: few leitmotivs, large choral scenes, a non-german topic.

This particular recording is the "complete" and "final" version by Wagner (the unabridged version would last more than 6 hours and I think it hasn't been fully recorded yet). The conducting by Herr Hollreiser is so powerful and perfect that you'll think that the one with the baton is Karajan.
The singers are mavelous: It's the best recording of Kollo, indeed. The Irene sung by Wennberg is tender but at the same time, powerful. Both Choruses (Staatsoper Dresden & Staatskapelle Dresden) are strong and clear, without any shouting.

If you're into Opera, buy it. If you're not into it, buy it too. It's a little bit long: almost 3 hours and a half. But's worth the time

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

Tracks
Ouvertüre | Act 1, scene 1: "Hier ist's, hier ist's!" | Act 1, scene 1: "Dies ist eu'r Handwerk" | Act 1, scene 1: "Doch hörtet ihr der Trompete Ruf" | Act 1, scene 2: "O Schwester, sprich" | Act 1, scene 2: "Rienzi, du bist fürchterlich!" | Act 1, scene 2: "Die Stunde naht..." - Act 1, scene 3: "...Er geht und läßt dich meinem Schutz" | Act 1, scene 4: "Gegrüßt, gegrüßt sei" | Act 1, scene 4: "Erwacht, ihr Schläfer nah und fern" | Act 1, scene 4: "Erstehe, hohe Roma, neu!" | Act 2: Einleitung (Introduction) | Act 2, scene 1: "Ihr Römer, hört die Kunde" | Act 2, scene 1: "Rienzi, nimm des Friedens Gruß!" | Act 2, scene 2: "Colonna, hörtest du das freche Wort?" | Act 2, scene 2: "Ich will denn ein Verräter sein..." | Act 2, scene 3: "Im Namen Roms seid mir gegrüßt!" | Act 2, scene 3: Ballet Music: Introducktion | Act 2, scene 3: Ballet Music: Armed Dance | Act 2, scene 3: Ballet Music: Fight of the Gladiators | Act 2, scene 3: Ballet Music: Entrance of the Virgins | Act 2, scene 3: Ballet Music: Festal Dance | Act 2, scene 3: "Rienzi! Auf! Schützt den Tribun!" | Act 2, scene 3: "O laßt der Gnade Himmelslicht" | Act 2, scene 3: "Euch Edlen, dieses Volk verzeiht" | Act 3: Einleitung (Introduction) - Act 3, scene 1: "...Vernahmt ihr all die Kunde schon?" | Act 3, scene 2: "Gerechter Gott" | Act 3, scene 2: "Wo bin ich?" | Act 3, scene 3: Zug (Procession) | Act 3, scene 3: "Der Tag ist da" | Act 3, scene 3: "Heil, Roma, dir!" | Act 3, scene 3: "Geschieden sind wir denn fortan" | Act 4: Einleitung (Introduction) - Act 4, scene 1: "...Wer war's, der euch hierher beschied?" | Act 4, scene 2: Zug (Procession) | Act 4, scene 2: "Ihr nicht beim Feste?" | Act 4, scene 2: "Vae, vae tibi maledicto!" | Act 5: Einleitung (Introduction) - Act 5, scene 1: "...Allmächt'ger Vater" | Act 5, scene 2: "Verläßt die Kirche mich" | Act 5, scene 3: "Du hier, Irene?" | Act 5, scene 4: "Herbei! Herbei!"

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