Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Nilsson, Hopf, Hines, Uhde, Windgassen, Frick, Töpper, Bjoner; Kempe. Bayreuth, 1960

$52.95

Listen to a Sample:

This is the first time that the 1960 Bayreuth Ring Cycle is available as it was intended with Birgit Nilsson singing all three Brünnhildes (previous versions had used a performance of Die Walküre from later in the run featuring Astrid Varnay.)
Nilsson is at her absolute peak and exceeds the already high bar she had set in this role.
Hans Hopf's burly Siegfried has both power and boyish charm.
Jerome Hines delivers a heartbreaking Walküre Wotan (it is a shame that he didn't sing the other two as Hermann Uhde is not as distinguished.).
Wolfgang Windgassen's Siegmund gives the tenor a chance to show off his impressive lyricism.
Gottlob Frick's Hunding and Hagen are near definitive in my opinion.
Gerhard Stolze captivates with his wiry Loge.
Otakar Kraus brings searing intensity to the role of Alberich, giving the character a malevolence that seems truly dangerous.
The rest of the cast includes some impressive cameos including Ingrid Bjoner's Freia, Helmwige and Gutrune and Thomas Stewart's Donner and Gunther.
The sound is excellent.