Description:

The achievement of this Ring Cycle is all the more impressive considering its origin in Düsseldorf—an important operatic center, though not on the same level as Munich or Berlin. The real triumph lies in the casting of Brünnhilde, split between Astrid Varnay and Martha Mödl, both legendary sopranos entering the mezzo phase of their careers. Varnay, in particular, still demonstrates remarkable command, handling the high Cs with aplomb and offering moments of radiant lyricism. Mödl, stepping in last-minute for Götterdämmerung in what would be her final Brünnhilde, delivers an uneven vocal performance—at times faltering under the role’s demands—but compensates with her signature dramatic intensity and flashes of vocal brilliance that recall her prime in the early 1950s. Hans Hopf proves himself a Siegfried for the ages, tireless in the role’s dramatic peaks and unexpectedly tender in more lyrical moments like the Forest Murmurs. Randolph Symonette tackles the roles of Wotan, the Wanderer, and Hagen across the cycle, with particular success in the latter. Though there are some brief drop-outs and the sound lacks depth overall, this set remains a remarkable document of a distinctive and ambitious regional cycle.

Mono

OD 11703-1