Reddit reviews Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000042H4/

It is amazing. That may look like a lot for an album, but it's less than $8/disc, and you'll treasure it for a lifetime. :-)

BBC made a documentary of the filming of Götterdämmerung: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PDZQUG/. It's somewhat fluffy, but it contains footage of live recording sessions, including some of the final takes, and Culshaw insisted that BBC use his soundtracks instead of their own. That's the source of the video I linked; the highlights are all on YouTube somewhere or other.

Supposedly some poll rated this as the greatest recording of all time.

The Solti recording of Le Nozze di Figaro with Te Kanawa, Sam Ramey, Lucia Popp, Frederica von Stade, Thomas Allen and Kurt Moll and the London Philharmonic

The live Solti recording of Cosi fan Tutte with Renée Fleming (in the one early performances that launched her career), Anne Sophie Von Otter, Olaf Bår, Michele Pertusi, Frank Lopardo and Adelina Scarabelli with the Chamber orchestra of Europe

The Madame Butterfly with Mirella Freni, Pavarotti, Christa Ludwig with Karajan conducting Vienna Philharmonic

The legendary Solti Ring Cycle with Nilsson, Ludwig, Flagstad, Windgassen, a young Joan Sutherland and practically every other great Wagnerian of the era with Vienna

The Otello DVD from the MET with Levine conducting Domingo, Fleming, and James Morris

The Rusalka with Fleming, Zajick, Franz Hawlata, and Ben Heppner with Mackerras conducting the Czech Philharmonic

The Porgy and Bess with Rattle conducting London Philharmonic and Williard White, Cynthia Haymon, Harolyn Blackwell et all singing

There are a few live recordings and bootlegs I love also. There's a Romeo and Juliet from 68 with Gedda and Freni at the MET that I LOVE. There's an Ernani from the early 60s with Cornell Macneil, Leontyne Price, Bergonzi and Schippers conducting that is amazing. There is a live Frau ohne Schatten with Karajan conducting Christa Ludwig, Jess Thomas, Leonie Rysanek, Lucia Popp, Walter Berry and Wunderlich

I'm sure there are a few others I'm forgetting, but with youtube it's so easy to watch individual performances of particular parts of particular operas---which is maybe making the art form in the theatre have a hard time competing. Now a days I prefer to hear singers in the hall before I get into their video and audio recordings.

I know this going to get lost in a sea of recommendations, but if you happen to see it please - please please please - make sure you listen to ATLEAST the first couple opening scenes of Das Rheingold from Wagner's Ring cycle. It is meant to symbolize both musical and human evolution and leaves me SPEECHLESS every time I hear it. This is my favorite recording: http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Der-Ring-Nibelungen-Cycle/dp/B0000042H4

Additionally, if you enjoy Sigur Ros, I cannot recommend Jonsi's Riceboy Sleeps record strongly enough. It is so successful at - for me at least - translating emotional impact into sound. It is extremely effecting - particularly the first track which I would describe simply as "joyous".

I wish frequently I could hear much of the world for the first time, again. You are a very lucky person, in more senses than one.