Wagner: Siegfried - Windgassen, Nilsson, Greindl, Wohlfahrt, Neidlinger, Böhme, Chookasian; Böhm. Bayreuth, 1965
$6.48
Listen to a Sample:
Just a year before the famous Philips release of the Böhm Ring Cycle, this performance proves to be a very satisfying dry-run. The cast is almost identical with the very notable exception of Josef Greindl as the Wanderer. Greindl's voice could not have been more different than his colleague, Theo Adam, who would take over the role the following year. Greindl was a true bass and with a black color which made him a fantastic Hagen. Surprisingly he displays a softer side as the Elder Wotan and copes remarkably with the higher parts of this role. Wolfgang Windgassen takes the title role. Windgassen sounds as fresh as ever and creates a Siegfried that leans more towards inexperienced hero as opposed to spoiled brat. Birgit Nilsson is well worth the wait in her final scene. The voice seems to have endless power and security on top and she seems to relish holding the final C as long as possible. It is also worth mentioning Lili Chookasian whose brief appearence as Erda in Act III is quite memorable. (She was not featured on the Phillips release.) The sound is excellent.
OD 10908-3
