Morgenlicht Rundfunkchor Berlin

I am not an automatic fan of composer-led recordings, even when the composer is as great a conductor as Leonard Bernstein. However, after living with this newcomer for a while, I have to confess that it doesn’t quite match that classic version, even though it does a few things even better. On the plus side, there’s Kent Nagano’s swift and perky direction of some of the music-theater numbers, such as “God Said”, “World Without End”, and in general all of the music in and around the Gloria. But this can be a two-edged sword: The mechanized Credo has less impact than it could; a very quick tempo at the opening of the Agnus Dei prevents the chorus from ever sounding really angry and demanding; and the calamitous Dona Nobis Pacem simply lacks the bluesy sleaze that Bernstein himself wrings out of it. A slower tempo also would have allowed the music’s many layers to register with greater clarity.

Richard Wagner - Tristan & Isolde
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Rundfunkchor Berlin / Marek Janowski
3x SACD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 934 MB | Full Artwork: 890 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 404 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Opera, Romantic

"…Thanks to Marek Janowski's inspiring direction, the singers' commitment and the peerless sound quality, this recording sets a new benchmark for Tristan und Isolde in the 21st century and undoubtedly it is one that all Wagnerites will wish to investigate. Unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended." ~SA-CD.net

Richard Wagner - Tristan & Isolde
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Rundfunkchor Berlin / Marek Janowski
3x SACD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 934 MB | Full Artwork: 890 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 404 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Opera, Romantic

"…Thanks to Marek Janowski's inspiring direction, the singers' commitment and the peerless sound quality, this recording sets a new benchmark for Tristan und Isolde in the 21st century and undoubtedly it is one that all Wagnerites will wish to investigate. Unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended." ~SA-CD.net

Richard Wagner - Parsifal - Ein Bühnenfestspiel in drei Aufzügen WWV 111
Christian Elsner / Franz-Josef Selig / Rundfunkchor & Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Marek Janowski
4xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 913 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 401 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Opera

"…This dramatic and involving 'Parsifal' raises Marek Janowski's epic Wagnerian journey to a new level of excellence that one hopes will be maintained in the performances and recordings yet to come - an exciting prospect for all Wagnerites!" ~sa-cd.net

Richard Wagner - Parsifal - Ein Bühnenfestspiel in drei Aufzügen WWV 111
Christian Elsner / Franz-Josef Selig / Rundfunkchor & Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Marek Janowski
4xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 913 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 401 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Opera

"…This dramatic and involving 'Parsifal' raises Marek Janowski's epic Wagnerian journey to a new level of excellence that one hopes will be maintained in the performances and recordings yet to come - an exciting prospect for all Wagnerites!" ~sa-cd.net

Richard Wagner - Lohengrin
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Rundfunkchor Berlin / Marek Janowski
3xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 843 MB | Full Artwork: 512 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 403 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Opera

"PentaTone have definitely established a winning formula for success with the ten Wagner operas they are currently recording in association with Deutschlandradio Kultur in Berlin. (…) The presentation of this set is excellent. Thankfully, it includes a well translated German/ English libretto (unlike the travesty supplied with the Bychkov version), a thought provoking essay on the opera by Steffen Georgi and full artist biographies. Though my own allegiance to the Bychkov version among recent recordings remains steadfast this Janowski account is unlikely to disappoint. It will surely be welcomed by avid Wagnerites and makes one eager for the next issue in what is proving to be a superlative series." ~sa-cd.net

Richard Wagner - Lohengrin
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Rundfunkchor Berlin / Marek Janowski
3xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 843 MB | Full Artwork: 512 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 403 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Opera

"PentaTone have definitely established a winning formula for success with the ten Wagner operas they are currently recording in association with Deutschlandradio Kultur in Berlin. (…) The presentation of this set is excellent. Thankfully, it includes a well translated German/ English libretto (unlike the travesty supplied with the Bychkov version), a thought provoking essay on the opera by Steffen Georgi and full artist biographies. Though my own allegiance to the Bychkov version among recent recordings remains steadfast this Janowski account is unlikely to disappoint. It will surely be welcomed by avid Wagnerites and makes one eager for the next issue in what is proving to be a superlative series." ~sa-cd.net

Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg WWV 70
Albert Dohmen / Robert Dean Smith / Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Marek Janowski
3xSACD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 749 MB | Full Artwork: 745 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 405 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Opera

"This is the 6th instalment of PentaTone’s successful Wagner Edition. It is the first time in the recording history that a label records all major Wagner opera’s with the same orchestra, choir and conductor. This makes the PentaTone Wagner Edition a great collector’s item. All operas are recorded live in the Philharmonie in Berlin. The first five recordings were awarded with “Editor’s Choice” (Gramophone), Recording of the Month and Opera Choice of the Month (BBC Music Magazine), CD of the week (Sunday Times). Based on the reviews of the concert we expect high scores for the Tannhäuser recording as well." ~prestoclassical

Richard Wagner - Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg WWV 70
Albert Dohmen / Robert Dean Smith / Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Marek Janowski
3xSACD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 749 MB | Full Artwork: 745 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Pentatone # PTC 5186 405 | Country/Year: Netherlands 2012
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic, Opera

"This is the 6th instalment of PentaTone’s successful Wagner Edition. It is the first time in the recording history that a label records all major Wagner opera’s with the same orchestra, choir and conductor. This makes the PentaTone Wagner Edition a great collector’s item. All operas are recorded live in the Philharmonie in Berlin. The first five recordings were awarded with “Editor’s Choice” (Gramophone), Recording of the Month and Opera Choice of the Month (BBC Music Magazine), CD of the week (Sunday Times). Based on the reviews of the concert we expect high scores for the Tannhäuser recording as well." ~prestoclassical