La Cieca has just noticed that Decca is about to release a 33-disc collection comprising all the standard Wagner works. (You’ll have to look elsewhere for Das Liebesverbot.) The amazing news here is that this complete traversal of the standard Wagnerian canon is on sale for only $66.99 — yes, that’s right, barely two dollars a disc. The recordings are all taken from live performances at Bayreuth:

  • Der fliegende Holländer Anja Silja, Fritz Uhl, Josef Greindl, Franz Crass; Wolfgang Sawallisch.
  • Tannhäuser Anja Silja, Grace Bumbry, Wolfgang Windgassen, Eberhard Wächter, Josef Greindl; Wolfgang Sawallisch.
  • Lohengrin Anja Silja, Astrid Varnay, Jess Thomas, Ramon Vinay; Wolfgang Sawallisch.
    Tristan und Isolde Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen; Karl Böhm.
  • Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Hannelore Bode, Jean Cox, Bernd Weikl, Karl Ridderbusch, Hans Sotin; Silvio Varviso.
  • Der Ring des Nibelungen Birgit Nilsson, Leonie Rysanek, James King, Wolfgang Windgassen, Theo Adam, Gustav Neidlinger, Theo Adam, Josef Greindl; Karl Böhm.
  • Parsifal Waltraud Meier, Peter Hoffmann, Hans Sotin, Simon Estes; James Levine.

    This Wagner set will be released on June 17. You can pre-order from amazon.com.

    Now, since obviously you all will be listening to your shiny new practically free Wagner CDs starting in June, La Cieca sees little point in devoting the summer months to the customary Wagnerfest at Unnatural Acts of Opera. So she’s taking suggestions for what sort of festival this summer should be. Leave your ideas in the comments and La Cieca will submit a selection of popular nominations to a vote later this month.

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