Most of the names in this performance will not be familiar. That doesn't mean, of course, that the are not good - far from it. Let's begin with the Rhinemaidens. Some may remember Margaret Neville as the lovely Gretel in the Sadlers Wells studio recording of Hansel and Gretel. Here she makes a shining, beautiful Woglinde, blending beautifully with her two companions. Kelemen's Alberich is a well-known commodity, but he is even better here than on the studio recording with Karajan. He sings up a storm with that distinctive snarly voice of his. His brother Mime is also distinctively played by Hubert Mohler, a tenor I've never heard of before. Jeff Vermeersch sings very well as Wotan, surpassing some better known rivals. Janet Costor, a fine, underrated mezzo makes a splendid Fricka. I look forward to hearing her as Fricka in Walkure and Waltraute in Gotterdammerung.The rest of the cast (including Heribert Schachschneider heard in the Quennet Ring in the same role) ranges from good to excellent. Helga Schmidt sings Erda with great distinction, her voice colorful and steady as a rock. Wallat's conducting is very fluid and he keeps things moving. The sound is good although the singers can sound a little recessed. The ear quickly adjusts though and one doesn't have to work to hear the singers.I thought this performance​ would be a chore to listen to; it turned out to be one of the best recordings of Rheingold I've heard in quite a while!