Like so many others, I've heard Karajan's studio Ring a number of times and basked in its sheer beauty of sound. This broadcast (in excellent stereo sound) captures not only those beautiful sounds, but a much more alive drama than can be heard in the studio effort. The cast, except for one person, is the same in both. Liselotte Rebman replaces Helen Donath as Woglinde. If her voice isn't as sweet sounding as Donath's, she has a shining top C and she and the other Rhinedaughters blend beautifully - what a trio!Fischer-Dieskau is very fine here. He was wise not to do the other Wotans, but his youthful timbre suits this younger Wotan well. Veasey sings a really lovely Fricka. The giants are terrific as are Dominguez as Erda and Wohlfahrt as Mime. Kelemen's heartbreaking Alberich defined the role for his generation. Some people are allergic to Stolze, but I love his incisive diction and characterization. The Rhinedaughters sometimes sound offstage in the first scene (though still audible) because their parts were doubled by three dancers who "swam" around Alberich. They are very clearly heard in the final moments of the opera, so clear that one can hear all three parts.

Diese Aufnahme ist interpretatorisch und aufnahmetechnisch erstaunlich gut. Auf jeden Fall der CD-Einspielung vorzuziehen und eine ideale Ergänzung zur DVD mit dem Soundtrack von 1973.

surprinsingly fresh and interesting

I think Rhinegold is one of Karajan's best studio opera recordings but this live performance is even more vivid and engaged.

This recording is a valuable document and it captures the production in a way the studio simply couldn't. The internal clarity of the orchestra, the sheer attentiveness and virtuosity of the sections combine to create a sound that surpasses so many other recording. The brass section perform miracles , the dynamics of the orchestra are far more interesting, we are happily transported to that electric occasion where everything came together perfectly. The recording is nothing short of a revelation. There is no better Rheingold to my knowledge and I've heard most of them.

This live performance is part of the series that Herbert von Karajan conducted with the Berlin Philharmonic at Salzburg between 1967 and 1970. As with his recorded Ring Cycle on Deutsche Gramophon, these performances offer the accustomed Karajan characteristics. The orchestral playing is brilliant, sweeping, smooth, and involving. In particular, listen to the final scene as the orchestra literally sweeps us into Valhalla. In DAS RHEINGOLD, the vocalism is superior and quite attractive. Sonically, the quality is fine broadcast sound, clear and uncluttered. In some ways, I prefer the live "frisson" of this performance to the DGG commercial release. The von Karajan Rings will not replace the Clemens Krauss, the Joseph Keilberth, or the Karl Bohm, or even the Georg Solti Cycles, but in many ways they offer wonderful delights and enjoyment to a Wagner fan.It is good that Opera Depot has released this entire Cycle, as the older releases ot it on Hunt/Arkadia and Memories are long out of print. Highly recommended.

I have been severe on my review of the whole Karajan's Ring, but Rheingold is really great. Great singers: Stolze, Wohlfahrt, Kelemen and DFD. Orchester very fluent ans discursive. Completely different from the 3 other Ring's days. This is theater and living performance, at the limits of histrionism: why not?