This fantastic rendition of Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" was recorded at the tenth anniversary celebration of the prestigious Verbier Festival, and features eight of the world's most respected pianists -- Evgeny Kissin, Lang Lang, Emanuel Ax, Leif Ove Andsnes, Claude Frank, Mikhail Pletnev, Staffan Scheja, and James Levine. It's just one of many stellar performances available on this very well-regarded concert dvd.

Give the piece a listen, especially if you've ever considered "Valkyries" too overbearing. The all-piano arrangement does full justice to the music's power, while also relieving some of its bombast. A definite winner. H/T @brainpicker

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Sheerly Avni is a San Francisco-based arts and culture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA Weekly, Mother Jones, and many other publications. You can follow her on twitter at @sheerly.