It's easy to forget what a good conductor Joseph Keilberth was. This Rheingold shows how he was able to maintain the pace of this tricky opera and yet never allow it to slacken. Fortunately this recording includes the initial E-flat; some broadcast recordings tend to cut in after it has begun and that doesn't happen here.The cast is great, the same as Clemens Kraus' more familiar cycle later that season. Hotter is in splendid voice. If you're only familiar with his singing from the Solti set this will be quite an eye opener for you. Witte and Neidlinger are superb. Neidlinger gives a psychotic laugh after "Bin ich nun frei?" that is positively frightening. His entire performance is a classic portrayal of someone pushed to and then over the brink of sanity. The giants are sung by two contrasting voices; one can hear the difference between Weber and Greindl's voices in a way that isn't always the case with these characters. Malaniuk and von Ilosvay are tremendously characterful in their roles. The Rhinedaughters make a first-rate trio, very well blended. The American soprano Bruni Falcon is a shrill, but memorable Freia. Stolze and Uhde are great as her brothers too.The sound is excellent, honest broadcast mono. There are few Rheingolds that match this one, let alone surpass it.