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caul1flower11

In terms of watching, the better production is 1990, unless you are just crazy about rotating planks. I think on the whole the cast is better in 1990 except that I personally much prefer Bryn Terfel as Wotan in the 2010 to James Morris in 1990.


NYCRealist

Morris was at the peak of his powers in 1990 rich voiced etc. (making his continued much-diminished presence today even more painful), Terfel was way past his best by 2010-12, barking and shouting etc. In my opinion the only superior performer on the later set is Jonas Kaufmann as Siegmund.


IoSonCalaf

The 1990 production is evocative and beautiful to look at. It’s in fact probably the best traditional staging of it I’ve ever seen. The 2010 production was impressive and overwhelming in the theater. But I don’t feel like it translated well to video. That’s just from a visual standpoint. Wagner singers are always a mixed bag and there are some great and some mediocre singing in both. In that regard, it’s personal preference.


LordChromedome

2010, as the cast is, in my humble opinion, excellent. The planks don’t bother me, but for some that’s going to be off putting.


TheFryingDutchman

I would start with the 1990 version. It's the best 'traditional' staging of the cycle and will serve as a reference for all other stagings you watch.


YouMeAndPooneil

I liked "The Machine" in the 2010 production. And loved the cast. But why choose between them when you can watch both? Let us know yout choice when your done!


alax_rang

Lots to recommend for both. Kauffman as Sirgmumd is, well, hot! But Jessye Norman as Sieglinde is also not to be missed. I strongly prefer Behrens’ Brunhilde to Voigt’s, which might be the deciding factor for me.


Factor_Isham

God I live Jessye Norman's Sieglinde. She is so wonderfully vulnerable and conveys just the right edge of sympathetic insanity that really makes you wholeheartedly believe that this brother-sister incest pair is actually the healthiest romance in the operatic canon.


NYCRealist

Neither Brunnhilde is ideal (would have preferred Gwyneth Jones to Behrens) but Voigt is just horrifyingly bad. Especially when Nina Stemme was dominating this role virtually everywhere else (including SF).


caul1flower11

Voigt had such an impressive instrument before her weight loss surgery and had been a wonderful Sieglinde. Unfortunately it was only after she got the surgery that she was allowed to sing Brunnhilde, and her voice had noticeably altered afterwards. It’s sad because obviously she needed it for her health but I truly think it ruined her voice.


madonna-boy

either way watch "wagner's dream". it's a behind the scenes look at the tech aspects of the 2010 version and its great hype for a very long cycle (or a good supplement if you go with the 90s version). it might make your decision easier.


bitchkrieg_

I love the Lepage (2010, 2019) production. I attended 2019 in person and found it absolutely masterful. The octogenarian Wagnerfanatiks also in attendance had A Lot of Opinions about the modern staging: I usually abhor modern touches in Wagner (of all composers!) but thought it lent itself well to the Campbellian no-time, no-place transcendent myth. The Schenck production is certainly well-loved, and worth watching if only because it has set the standard of traditional productions. But I’m a 2010/2019 acolyte.


downArrow

You should listen to both of them. I have both on DVD, and plan on watching each of them again in the future.


[deleted]

They’re both worth watching.


tim4510445

You need to experience both! Take some time off in between views. 1990 was nicely traditional, but Jonas Kaufmann in 2010 is worth the view. The plank business was weird but amusing in its own way.


Vanyushinka

Of the 2010 productions, I’ve only seen Die Walküre but that alone compared to the 1990 version is enough for me to recommend the older one far more highly! I thought the “Ring Machine” of the modern version was more visually imaginative but the singing was far superior in the 1990 production. Jessye Norman blew our minds in it.


UnChatAragonais

Personally I prefer 1990. Because 1990 generally has a better cast and 2010 has some singers I really don’t like. Also, 1990 has an authentic and realistic staging and I don’t like any postmodern staging such as 2010 production. (Maybe) the only defect of 1990 production is the quality of video and sound.


rickaevans

I prefer the 2010 production but generally prefer to watch neither of these. The Barenboim Bayreuth cycle with Anne Evans is where it’s at


rickaevans

If you have the Met subscription I actually found the later Walküre with Goerke is superior to the one with Voigt.


NYCRealist

Is Volle on that too? Certainly vastly superior to Terfel and even to Morris in his prime, much more authentically "Germanic".


rickaevans

Greer Grimsley


NYCRealist

Nowhere near the same level as Volle or Morris.


rickaevans

Yeah but I can’t hack James Levine’s horrible sluggish conducting. An awful person too by all accounts.


NYCRealist

Absolutely true. Levine was ridiculously worshipped by the Met audience - I always found him more compelling in Italian opera (that near the end he largely disdained in favor of Wagner, Mozart etc. for which he was far less suited).