Looking for Wagner recommendations

you should get the one where the fat lady sings.

Many thanks for the suggestions. I picked up a few cds over the weekend:

The Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Solti performing Rienzi, Der fliegende Hollander, Tannhauser, Siegfried Idyll. Decca label.

The New York Philharmonic conducted by Mehta performing: Tannhauser, Parsifal, and Rienzi. Sony label.

Tristan & Isolde performed by the German Symphony Orchestra. 2 cd set on Pilz label. I believe the fat lady sings on this one.

I agree that you are diving into the deep end. There are people that spend their whole lives on a quest for the perfect Ring cycle alone.

Buy one of the many opera excerpts discs (silver or vinyl).

then if you decide you love it,go for Tristan and Isolde,then The Flying Dutchman before venturing into the land of the Ring.

Personally I love this music, but Der Walkure puts me right out. All that incestuous swooning in the cave for what seems like hours with no action at all.
Das Rhinegold is the most approachable and the shortest at apporx 4 hours. The others are all 5 hours long. Goetterdamering is the ultimate in Wagnerian moments. After all, it is the twilight of the Gods.

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'Personally I love this music, but Der Walkure puts me right out. All that incestuous swooning in the cave for what seems like hours with no action at all.'

are you expecting some X-rated behavior?

Q.Whats the definition of a man's foreplay?

A.Fancy a sh*g?!!!
(or two hours of begging).

LOL! Gawbless, god bless you.

No I have no expectations of Wagnerian porn.As I said, Der Walkure is just plain too long and boring.Of course the famous "Ride of the Walkure" is what everyone thinks of when they think of Wagner.Perhaps this is what I don't like.It has become gosh.
To me the immolation scene in Goetterdamering is so incredible that the "Ride" pales by comparison.

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