Wagner's The Ring and I: The Passion, The Myth, The Mania

[Goosemaster]

link@WNYC

WNYC's Radiolab Podcast - Jan 1st Episode is a special re-broadcast of "The Ring and I"

It might seem hyperbole to claim, as many Wagnerites do, that The Ring Cycle is "The Greatest Work of Art Ever." But the grandeur and power of this monumental work have permeated our culture from Star Wars to Bugs Bunny to J.R.R. Tolkien.

WNYC's "The Ring and I: The Passion, The Myth, The Mania" asks what many of the uninitiated must wonder: "What's the big deal?" This journey, intended for both devoted fans and newcomers alike, visits with a diverse cast of characters who weigh in with their answers to this complex question...

Going into this I vividly remember trying to change to something else immediately, only to be attacked by a crowd of angry passengers desperate to get onto the train and have my arm twisted out of reach.

I didn't have much of a choice so I listened...

Without spoiling it, one hears a great many "great" broadcasts in their life, and for me this was one of them.

The music is fantastic.
The views are enlightening.
The music theory is engaging.

If you have an hour so and like cultural radio programs I highly recommend this. It goes into detail about the execution of a Wagner Ring Cycle on stage and about the Wagner Ring Cycle itself.

 

[UNCjigga]

I have no idea what this is about, so here's two girls eating watermelon.

 

[UNCjigga]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Ring_des_Nibelungen

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: UNCjigga
I have no idea what this is about, so here's two girls eating watermelon.

Trust me, I didn't either, and I loved it. (well I sort of knew about it, but not at this level.)

 

[mooglemania85]

:music:

Kill da wabbit! Kill da wabbit! Kill da wabbit!

:music:

 

[EvilYoda]

Definitely something you should listen to if you're remotely interested in classical music. I've got 2 different sets of the entire Ring cycle and I also suggest the 2-CD "An Introduction to Der Ring des Niebelungen" by Deryck Cooke, if you can find it..

 

[aplefka]

You know, as much as The Ring Cycle is talked about I wasn't all that impressed. Don't get me wrong, it's a great work, but there were some that we listened to in my last music class that I had never heard of and really impressed me. I'm trying to think of the name of one now, I'll get back to you on it.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Definitely something you should listen to if you're remotely interested in classical music. I've got 2 different sets of the entire Ring cycle and I also suggest the 2-CD "An Introduction to Der Ring des Niebelungen" by Deryck Cooke, if you can find it..

more info please

I've never heard the whole thing; never knew where to start in terms of performances.

I will look at that album though

 

[aplefka]

Man I can't find the one I was thinking of anywhere. All I know is that it's a program piece with 7 (I believe) different parts that starts out with snow melting from the top of a mountain into a calm river, then it gets more wild. One of the other parts are nymphs dancing in the moonlight and I think the end is the river going by the castle gates or something.

I want to say it starts with an A or an R but hell if I can remember right now. :|

 

[Goosemaster]

just bought ""An Introduction to Der Ring des Niebelungen""...from the clips it sounds pretty good

 

[aplefka]

I figured out what it was!

Smetana - The Moldau. I love the opening part of that piece.

 

[sandorski]

Just checked iTunes, loaded up and ready to go. RadioLab is such an awesome show I subscribed last June. Been too busy to listen lately though.