Description:

The cast speaks for itself: Birgit Nilsson as Brünnhilde, Wolfgang Windgassen as both Siegfried and Loge, Theo Adam as Wotan, and Leonie Rysanek and James King as Sieglinde and Siegmund. Conducting duties are split between Karl Böhm and Otmar Suitner, with Böhm leading Rheingold and Siegfried, and Suitner taking the helm for Walküre and Götterdämmerung (see note below).

A WORD ABOUT THIS CYCLE:
These recordings mark the only time that Bayreuth used two different conductors for the same Ring. Initially scheduled to be recorded in 1966, the plan was revised due to Birgit Nilsson’s concerns over the strain of performing both the Ring and Tristan und Isolde (also being recorded that summer) under Karl Böhm. The compromise was to record Rheingold and Siegfried in 1966, with the remainder—Walküre and Götterdämmerung—recorded in 1967. As a result, Otmar Suitner, originally slated to conduct the entire cycle, was replaced by Böhm for the earlier installments. Interestingly, Wolfgang Windgassen, also singing Tristan, had no objection to the demanding schedule. These recordings come from the live broadcasts of summer 1967, whereas the commercial release was a carefully edited composite of performances from both years. What’s lost in polish is gained in immediacy.

In Stereo

OD 11624-2