Wolfgang Sawallisch begins his Rome 1968 cycle with a lively, well-considered Rheingold. He keeps things moving without rushing. He has an excellent cast. Theo Adam sings a fine Wotan without the unsteadiness that plagued him later on in the Janowski studio cycle. As always his diction is a model of clarity. Janis Martin was just beginning to transition to soprano roles in '68, but she has enough voice and intelligence for a good Fricka (a role she would sing the following year at the Bayreuth Festival). Kelemen and Wohlfahrt are terrific as the Nibelungs and Nienstedt and Ridderbusch sing the giants very beautifully. The Loge, Donner, Froh, and Freia are unusually strong and assertive. Dominguez is a sturdy, noble Erda. The three Rhinemaidens are good though Liselotte Hammes may have been indisposed as she leaves out Woglinde's top C's. The orchestra is good even if one gets the impression that this isn't a score they played often.The sound is good. Myto's sound was even better and in stereo, but is now out-of-print and extremely expensive. Andy's copy is on pitch and is more than adequate.Incidentally, this Ring was a concert performance for RAI so don't expect to hear the Rhinemaidens or Alberich laugh or (in the later operas) Brunnhilde/Sieglinde's screams or Fafner's roars. You can hear all that in other performances anyway.

Comme le Siegfried