Description:

This performance features Birgit Nilsson in one of her final appearances as Brünnhilde. Remarkably, despite being nearly 60 and having sung the role for over two decades, she manages the vocal demands with admirable command. Hans Beirer proves himself a Siegfried for the ages, though he keeps the prompter busy with some missed entrances—hardly unusual for the Staatsoper during this period, where monumental works were often staged with minimal rehearsal. Fortunately, the casts were strong enough that few seemed to mind. Karl Ridderbusch, portraying Hagen, sounds vibrant and undiminished, lending his usual gravitas to the performance.

There is notable microphone rustling at the beginning, and the first minute of the opera is lost to a dropout. However, the rest of the sound is reasonably clear and allows the performance to shine through.

In Mono

Note:
This recording replaces OD 11791-4. The new version now includes the Rheinmaiden scene in Act III and corrects some issues with wayward pitch.

OD 11949-4