I'm working up my nerve to break the cellophane on a sealed copy of Solti's 'Ring'. My present copy is in good shape except for a few tics and pops, so I grabbed the sealed set when it showed up. Just staring at that huge box and noting the four sealed boxes nestled inside is kind of exciting. (If you guys understand that, you're even more nerdly than I!)
I have broken the seal on John Culshaw's 'Ring Resounding', which came with this new set. Read it in a single sitting. It's a wonderful book from a true pioneer in stereo recording and reproduction. Highly recommended, even if you don't like opera it's a worthwhile read. Culshaw's views on home audio reproduction vs. live performance were vastly ahead of their time.
