Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Neeme Järvi – Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde (2011)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & DST64 5.0 >1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Front+Back | 3.36 GB
FLAC Image+CUE 2.0 24bit/88.2 kHz | Front+Back | 1.11 GB

The popular Prelude & the so-called Liebestod (“Mild und Leise”) from Richard Wagner’s music drama Tristan und Isolde are the most familiar parts orchestras play, most often in the 1859 concert arrangement by Wagner. (He preferred that the term Liebestod be applied to the Prelude only, & originally titled his concert version Liebestod und Verklärung, or “Love-death & Transfiguration.”) The featured work of this Chandos SACD is the 1994 suite arranged by Henk de Vlieger, fashioned from key parts of the entire opera, not just the beginning & end. Tristan und Isolde: An Orchestral Passion is a lengthy tone poem that includes key passages, in much the same manner as de Vlieger’s other symphonic syntheses on Der Ring des Nibelungen, Parsifal, & Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. These instrumental potpourris have all been performed by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, for whom de Vlieger serves double duty as arranger & percussionist, & the recordings of the 1st 3 suites with Edo de Waart show enthusiastic support & commitment to de Vlieger’s work. Add to that the recordings that Neeme Järvi & the Royal Scottish National Orchestra have made of The Ring, Parsifal, & now Tristan und Isolde, & it becomes clear that there’s a market for these recordings of “operas without words.” Since the music is faithfully adapted from the original score, & arranged into a coherent version that still communicates the broad outlines of the drama, there is little to debate over de Vlieger’s choices. Though he’s not noted as a Wagnerian conductor, Järvi’s interpretation is perfectly acceptable & coherent for most casual listeners’ purposes. Indeed, purists who appreciate the original music dramas really have no need for this arrangement, though newcomers who are daunted by Wagner’s texts & operatic singing may want to try this recording as a means to become better acquainted with 1 of the most influential works in western music history. This album is filled out with 2 of Wagner’s early opera overtures, Das Liebesverbot & Die Feen. (more…)

Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Neeme Järvi – Wagner: The Ring, Siegfried Idyll (2008)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & DST64 5.0 >1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Digital Booklet | 3.62 GB 
FLAC Image+CUE 2.0 24bit/88.2 kHz | Digital Booklet | 1.2 GB

This 67-minute, orchestra-only version of Wagner’s famous opera cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen is arranged by Henk de Vlieger, arranger, composer & percussionist in the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic. The work was commissioned by the orchestra & the result is a 14-section fiery musical spectacle entitled The Ring, an orchestral adventure. (more…)

Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Neeme Jarvi – Wagner: Parsifal (2010)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & DST64 5.0 >1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Front Cover | 3.29 GB
FLAC Image+CUE 2.0 24bit/88.2 kHz | Front Cover | 1.08 GB 

Most of the familiar orchestral versions of Richard Wagner’s operatic music were arranged either by him or his followers in the 19th century, so the Overture & Venusberg Music from Tannhäuser & the Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin have long been performed in these special concert formats. But the main work of this SACD is the 1993 suite arranged by Henk de Vlieger, Parsifal, an Orchestral Quest, which is a fresh adaptation of the key moments from Wagner’s final music drama. The work was commissioned by the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, after de Vlieger, the ensemble’s percussionist, had successfully arranged music from Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen into a similar orchestral vehicle for them. Parsifal, an Orchestral Quest was premiered on RCA in 1997 by Edo de Waart, & Neeme Järvi leads the 2nd recorded performance on this 2010 release on Chandos. Since the music is faithfully adapted from the original score & arranged into a coherent instrumental version that still communicates the broad outlines of the drama, there is little to debate over de Vlieger’s choices, & Järvi’s performance with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is fully satisfying. This album provides a balanced program of Wagner’s orchestral music, from the somber meditations of Parsifal to the lascivious passions of the bacchanalia from Tannhäuser & the stirring emotions in the Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin, so listeners can expect a captivating listening experience that may also inspire them to seek out the full operas. (more…)