Barenboim’s XBox: Daniel Barenboim’s conducting of the ‘Ring’ is the highlight of this CD box set of his ten Wagner recordings, according to Jerry Floyd

Re-packaged as a moderately-priced box set, Teldec’s release of Barenboim: Complete Wagner Operas is the first major anthology of Wagner operas released in advance of the bicentenary of the composer’s birth in 2013. The thirty-four CDs originate from live and studio performances Daniel Barenboim recorded with various ensembles from 1989 to 2001. Although the four Ring operas were released as a set this is the first time all ten of Barenboim’s Wagner recordings have been released together. At the start of this project, digital recording had markedly improved from the acoustically dry Wagner CDs released earlier in the 1980s, and these recordings have a warm, spacious sound that does justice to Barenboim’s flexible beat (which, however, can occasionally be too sluggish) and varied articulation, as well as the large orchestral textures.