Description:

The remarkable achievement of this Ring Cycle is all the more impressive given its origin in Düsseldorf—an important opera center, though not traditionally ranked alongside Munich or Berlin. Central to its success is the casting of Brünnhilde, split between Astrid Varnay and Martha Mödl. Both legendary sopranos were moving into mezzo territory by this point in their careers, but their long experience in the roles compensates for any vocal wear. Varnay fares particularly well, managing the high Cs with confidence and delivering passages of striking lyrical beauty. Mödl, stepping in at the last minute for Götterdämmerung in what would be her final outing as Brünnhilde, gives a vocally uneven performance, occasionally transposing lines. Yet her dramatic commitment is unwavering, and at times she channels the vocal fire of her 1950s prime.

Hans Hopf offers a Siegfried for the ages, with tireless strength in the heroic passages and unexpected tenderness in more lyrical moments—particularly the Forest Murmurs. Randolph Symonette performs valiantly across all four operas as Wotan, the Wanderer, and Hagen, with especially strong results in the final role. Supporting roles are well cast, with Grace Hoffman as a poised Fricka, Martti Talvela a thunderous Hunding, and Zoltan Kélémen a vivid Alberich. Though the sound suffers from occasional drop-outs and a lack of depth, the vocal and interpretive strength of this cast makes the cycle a rewarding listen.

In Mono

OD 11704-13