The Solti Ring is supposedly the gold standard , with regards to performance/sound . Any experience with it ? Am about to call for it via Amazon .
The Solti Ring was a landmark in recorded history - superb performances by legendary performers, though a few were past their prime, plus excellent sound for its day. And, it was the first complete Ring recording project ever, which took, what, about 7 years to complete.
It is well worth having just on that basis alone. It is truly great, and I love it. But, it is not the best sounding recording of the Ring ever made. I think a number of more recent hi rez recordings, particularly in Mch sound, are much better. Unfortunately, while a number of these modern recordings are excellent, some on Blu-Ray video, none of them have the stellar cast that Culshaw assembled under Solti, though they may be terrific in their own right. John Culshaw, the producer, was a great genius. Look for The Golden Ring, an outstanding BBC documentary on DVD about the making of the Solti Gotterdaemmerung. It is even available via Netflix rental.
I would have to say based on my limited experience that the somewhat weird, but not Eurotrash, Valencia Ring of several years ago with Mehta conducting on BD-V is the one that has most impressed me in the last 10 years or so on sonics, production, casting, etc. I think my Wagner-nut case friend, Andy Quint, (I am a Wagner-nut too) who writes for TAS and Fanfare, would agree. Andy has every recording of Wagner operas ever made, including every Ring. My other good friend, Kal Rubinson, who writes for Stereophile preferred the Met recording on BD-V for sonics. I just do not like the Lepage Met production at all on the video side. I do not think that either of those has any advantage in casting.