To celebrate its 10th anniversary PentaTone has decided to embark on a unique project: Recording the 10 major Wagner operas with the same forces. Never before a record company has recorded all Wagner opera’s with the same Orchestra, Choir and conductor.

 

This project became possible since the Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin had decided to program all the Wagner opera’s in three seasons in concert performances. Marek Janowski the Music Director of the Orchestra (who a.o. recorded the first digital Ring cycle in Dresden) felt that in Berlin with its 3 opera houses too much attention went to the mis en scene and wanted to enable the audiences of his orchestra to listen to the music Wagner has composed without being detracted by the way stage directors and set designers influence the Wagner experience and detract from the music. For the full story we refer to the (video) interview with Marek Janowski which was done by the magazine "Gramophone" which will soon be posted on the Gramophone website. A short version of the interview will be published by "Gramophone" in the print version of the awards issue of the magazine (street date: 7 October 2011).

 

Partners in the project are Deutschland Radio and the Rundfunk Chor Berlin.

 

Each opera will only be performed once. Concerts take place in the Philharmonie in Berlin, one of the "homes" of the orchestra (the other one is the Konzerthaus in former East Berlin). The decision to do the concerts in the prestigious Philharmonie, -which was best suited for the mega forces needed for the Wagner operas- immediate triggered a lot of logistical problems since most of the year the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is giving its performances in this venue. Not just 10 free nights were needed spread over 3 seasons, but also at least three days prior to each concert for rehearsals. Only after all the free "slots" had been found the selection of (top) singers could start.

 

PentaTone’s recording partner Polyhymnia International will record all concerts plus the rehearsals.