Das Rheingold

Richard Wagner (1813–1883)

DESCRIPTION

Wotan occupies a pivotal role throughout the Ring Cycle, and perhaps most centrally in Das Rheingold. Hermann Uhde meets the demands of the part with both authority and finesse, pairing a commanding vocal presence with subtle gradations of expression. Ira Malaniuk offers a warmly colored Fricka, her tone supple and her upper register assured. Gustav Neidlinger, as Alberich, negotiates an intriguing interplay of sophistication and menace; his portrayal blurs the moral boundaries with a deftness that proves crucial in establishing the ethical complexities underpinning the drama to come. Joseph Keilberth draws richly textured playing from the Bayreuth orchestra, imbuing the score with both grandeur and a finely woven sense of detail.

CAST

Wotan – Hermann Uhde
Fricka – Ira Malaniuk
Loge – Erich Witte
Mime – Paul Kuen
Alberich – Gustav Neidlinger
Freia – Inge Borkh
Froh – Wolfgang Windgassen
Donner – Werner Faulhaber
Erda – Melanie Bugarinovic
Fasolt – Josef Greindl
Fafner – Ludwig Weber
Woglinde – Erika Zimmermann
Wellgunde – Hertha Töpper
Floßhilde – Hanna Ludwig

DETAILS

Location: Bayreuth
Date: 1952
Conductor: Joseph Keilberth
Catalogue Number: OD 12316-2
Label: Opera Depot
Number of Discs: 2
In Mono