Solti's live performances are often a lot more exciting than his studio sets and that's the case with this Rheingold. His studio cast is excellent, but it's not significantly better that the cast here. David Ward sounds and acts like an arrogant, sexy God and Josephine Veasey sings such a distinguished Fricka one wants to hear more of her. Stolze sings more and shouts less than he did under Karajan a few years later. His added cackles are amusing. Robinson and Langdon make a vividly contrasted pair of giants. Neidlinger is in top shape as Alberich though he doesn't do his usual laugh at the end of the first scene ( did Solti say no?). Lanigan is so good as Mime I wish Covent Garden had allowed him to do the bigger one in Siegfried. The three Rhinedaughters are superb, both individually and as a group. The Flosshilde, Maureen Guy, doubles as Erda and is outstanding. But really, everyone is good.The sound is much better than I expected it would be and there are no glitches that I heard. I'm looking forward to the rest of this cycle!

This is eloquent testimony to Georg Solti's ability to forge a first-class Wagnerian ensemble at Covent Garden, drawing upon Commonwealth. The Brits hold their own against two of the most incisive Bayreuth 'ringers' (in more than one sense) that Solti could have imported. Gerhard Stolze is in his most beguiling form here, much preferable to his studio recording with Karajan, and Gustav Neidlinger continues to define himself as the Alberich for the ages. David Ward sings Wotan with ease, if lacking the individuality of Thomas Stewart and Hans Hotter (although Ward would easily be preferable to Hotter at this juncture in history). In addition to Josephine Veasey's commanding Fricka, we encounter strength in virtually every supporting role, including John Lanigan's Mime and even Michael Langdon's rather courtly Fafner. Only John Dobson's Froh lets the side down. Chalk this up as a "win" for the home team.

The great David Ward is Wotan. The sheer scale of the emotion he brings to the role is spellbinding.He was the great bass-baritone of his time, yet he was underrated.The Flying Dutchman with Jones and Frick is the finest I've ever heard, go buy it. This Rheingold is cast with the finest singers of the time or any time really, this is pure gold.

Again this shows how great a Wotan David Ward was. Veasey sang many a Fricka but always sounded beautiful if at little uninvolved. Solti always made too much noise with the orchestra at certain points but God they could play from him and Ted Downes who took over some Cycles. By the time Shuard had reached the Twilight of the Gods she was out of voice and screamed a lot of the high notes but she was always committed.