The merits of this recording should be obvious to even the greenest of collectors out there. It finds the great Elisabeth Schwarzkopf at a point where her grasp of the Marschallin is so complete and organic, and just before the bloom was beginning to fade from her voice. She is joined by Sena Jurinac in the title role. Hearing these two singers together, you get the sense of how wonderful it is when you have artists that have such a clear rapport and comfort with one another. Kurt Böhme is a riotous Ochs. What is particularly important about this production is that it marks the Covent Garden debut of Sir Georg Solti, who would go on to a legendary tenure as music director.