Amy Shuard, Wolfgang Windgassen, Gottlob Frick,
Josephine Veasey, John Shaw, Heather Harper, Gwyneth Jones
Sir Georg Solti

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
October 16, 1965

OD 10463-4

This performance features the great and underrecorded soprano Amy Shuard as Brunnhilde.  In 1965 her voice was in pristine shape and she sings with tireless abandon throughout.  She is joined by veterans Wolfgang Windgassen as Siegfried and Gottlob Frick as Hagen.  The supporting cast, as was common during the Solti era at Covent Garden, is peppered with singers who would go on to have great careers such as Heather Harper as Gutrune and a fantastic third Norn by Gwyneth Jones.  Fans of Jones will find that the whole set is worth it just for her contributions.  As for Sir Georg Solti, his Wagner is in a league above any other conductor.  No one makes this music ignite quite like he could.  The sound is good.  I should point out that the immolation scene was missing on my master so I have substitute another version featuring Shuard.