Wagner: Die Walküre - Jones, Adam, Behrens, King, Fassbaender; Sawallisch. München, 1977
$12.95
Listen to a Sample:
You really can’t ask for a better line-up for Die Walküre. Gwyneth Jones, in the title role, brings youthful athleticism to the ”Hojotohos” (including the trills that many less nimble sopranos opt out of) and seems to pour out her very soul in the final moments of the opera, inspiring Theo Adam, as Wotan, to give one of the most impassioned farewells I have ever heard from him. Hildegard Behrens was still relatively new to the international opera circuit in 1977, but nonetheless seems right at home with the others, bringing her very unique brand of understated yet focused acting as well as purity of tone to the role of Sieglinde. James King is a virile Siegmund and Brigitte Fassbaender strikes a fine balance between imperial and menacing as Fricka. Wolfgang Sawallisch keeps the orchestra light and maintains the forward momentum throughout the evening. The sound is quite good, although there is patch of minor digital clicks at the end of Act I and Act III; each instance lasting about two minutes.
OD 11228-3
