Wagner: Das Rheingold - Hotter, Gorr, Uhl, Adam, Kónya, Grümmer, Greindl, Andersson, Stolze; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958

$8.95

Listen to a Sample:

Of the recordings of Das Rheingold from the 1950s Bayreuth Festivals, this one is my favorite. The cast is in top form and seems to have a good chemistry.
Hans Hotter's Wotan was no stranger to Bayreuth and he delivers his signature attention to text.
Rita Gorr as Fricka is the revelation of the evening. I have never heard a Fricka come across as strong yet sympathetic.
Fritz Uhl was never my favorite Heldentenor, but he is surprisingly convincing as Loge. Without the pressures of being the leading man, he is able to relax into the part and connect with the character in a way I had not heard from him before. It is a shame he didn't consider other character tenor parts.
Theo Adam, who would later go on to own the role of Wotan at Bayreuth, brings oversized elegance to the role of Fasolt.
The smaller roles contain an embarrassment of riches, including Sándor Kónya as Froh, Josef Greindl as Fafner and Elisabeth Grümmer as Freia.

Frans Andersson does a fair job as Alberich, but he doesn't approach the level or vocalism or artistry of Gustav Neidlinger who was the reigning Alberich in Bayreuth for decades.

In Mono

OD 12040-2