Wagner: Siegfried

01/08/2007
John Grant
2MBS Fine Music Magazine (Australia)

This is the third release of Melba’s recording of the 2004 Adelaide Ring, with just the final opera to go. The entire set will be released next year. Handsomely presented and with well-written notes and details, it has a libretto in English and German making it easy to follow.

The first release, Die Walküre, has been praised universally here and elsewhere for its splendid recording and excellent cast ... Throughout this series the much augmented and well-rehearsed Adelaide Symphony has impressed, and the conductor, Asher Fisch, has been reliable, conscientious and observant ...

As I first started listening to this Siegfried I was immediately struck by the Mime of Richard Greager. This is a sensational and intelligent portrayal of an unsympathetic character, with a fine range of colour in the voice and accuracy as well. Here is an example of a far superior performance to Gerhardt Stoltz’s whining, over-acted and exaggerated performance for Solti ...

… John Wegner is a superb Alberich. His gritty, slightly nasal tone is more baritone than bass but ideally suited to the scheming Nibelung … Shu-Cheen Yu’s Woodbird … does sound wonderfully bright and secure…

This Cycle is a milestone in Australian recording and has much to commend it…