Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1958

Wagner

Der Ring des Nibelungen

Hotter, Varnay, Windgassen, Rysanek, Vickers, Grümmer, Gorr, Madeira; Knappertsbusch
Bayreuth, 1958

Regular price $115.95
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Der Ring des Nibelungen

Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner (1813–1883)

The genius of Hans Knappertsbusch's Ring Cycle is that he never got stuck on finding a definitive interpretation. Each year, he returned to Bayreuth with fresh ideas, new tempi, and a spirit of spontaneous discovery. His text-driven approach extracts from the orchestra something deeper than mere dynamics or articulation—he achieves intention, resulting in an orchestration that comes close to Wagner's vision of a true Greek chorus. After years of inhabiting the role, Astrid Varnay delivers a Brünnhilde full of abandon and depth. Hans Hotter begins with commanding strength as Wotan in Das Rheingold, and though the demands of the cycle wear on him in Die Walküre and Siegfried, he still offers a compelling portrait of a man fractured by ambition. Leonie Rysanek and Jon Vickers light up the stage as Sieglinde and Siegmund, while Josef Greindl is chilling in his triple roles as Fafner, Hunding, and Hagen. The supporting cast is a treasure trove of vocal talent, with Elisabeth Grümmer as Freia and Gutrune, Rita Gorr's commanding Fricka, Sándor Kónya's noble Froh, and Jean Madeira as a memorable Waltraute. And for those who delight in great character tenors, Gerhard Stolze's incisive Mime is worth the price of admission alone.

Wotan – Hans Hotter
Brünnhilde – Astrid Varnay
Siegfried – Wolfgang Windgassen
Sieglinde – Leonie Rysanek
Siegmund – Jon Vickers
Fricka – Rita Gorr
Mime – Gerhard Stolze
Hagen – Josef Greindl
Alberich – Frans Andersson
Gutrune/Freia – Elisabeth Grümmer

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Customer Reviews

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5.0 Based on 6 reviews
5 ★ 6
4 ★ 0
3 ★ 0
2 ★ 0
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David R.✓ Top Reviewer

United States

Overall rating

Another Magnificent Bayreuth Ring Cycle under Knappertsbusch!

Opera Depot now has all three of Knappertsbusch's Bayreuth Ring cycles available and all Wagner fans are strongly urged to invest in all three, especially since the prices are very reasonable. I've discussed the earlier cycles elsewhere and they are tremendously good. I won't say this one is better, but it has many special moments with a number of portrayals unique to this cycle. One may prefer this or that singer or this or that moment in which ever cycle, but all three are performed at a musical and theatrical level rarely encountered today.Hotter is in fresher, steadier voice in the earlier cycles, but he is still Hotter and that means a lot. Varnay subtly changes her interpretation from cycle to cycle as does Greindl. Vickers and Rysanek are incendiary as the Wälsung twins. Gorr is a commanding, beautiful Fricka. Anderrson is great as Alberich though he doesn't quite have the unique specificity of Neidlinger. Stolze is a deliciously creepy Mime, singing his role more here than he would in subsequent performances. The sound in all three cycles is superb: warm, clear, and detailed.If you love Wagner and the Ring, I urge you to hear all three cycles (1956, 1957, and 1958) under Knappertsbusch. You won't regret it.
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Jeffrey S.✓ Verified Buyer

United States

Overall rating

Glorious Ring recording.

I have close to 50 Ring cycles and numerous one-offs of individual Ring operas in my collection. A number of them are great performances featuring many of the singers in this Ring from Bayreuth in 1958 conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch, my favorite conductor for all things Wagnerian and Brucknerian.This cycle is hands down the one I will listen to in my last hours on Earth this time around.I won't belabor the details of this superlative (dare I say perfect) cast.Knappertsbusch conducts like Odin Himself were on the podium. Equal to his contribution are the performances of Hotter Windgassen, Vickers, Madeira, Greindl, Varnay, Rysanek, Stolze, Gorr, Andersson, Grümmer... There isn't a weak link anywhere in the singing cast.Die Walküre and Siegfried are amazingly well-done, esp Act I of the former and Acts 1&2 of the latter. There is no better Siegmund than the young Jon Vickers. This is Rysanek's greatest Sieglinde by my reckoning. And Windgassen was in astounding form in 1958.Varnay sounds younger and more vigorous than ever, surpassing her work for Krauss in 1953. Hotter IS Odin; dangerous and unapproachable but deeply moving in Act 2 of Walküre and a frightening force to be reckoned with during the riddle scene in Siegfried.Greindl's call to his Viking vassals is hair-raising, thrilling, better even that Matti Salminen for Janowski I and Levine.I won't go on. If you are a Wagnerian you must buy this. I don't know the provenance of the Opera Depot recording but it is in outstanding clear and immediate sound. The voices/stage/pit balances are perfect. The audience all but aurally invisible, no tuberculosis ward nonsense.
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Arthur S.✓ Verified Buyer

United States

Overall rating

Why did it Take so Long

Probably one of the best Rings ever. Hotter is ace, Vickers first time is perfect, Varnay is always good. Knapperbusch is great.
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Stephane M.✓ Verified Buyer

France

Overall rating

great bargain

very good sound, best Rysanek's Sielinde, Vickers Hotter and Varnay, what else ?!?!
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Nicholas B.✓ Verified Buyer

Italy

Overall rating

Excellent as far as it goes........

I don't know because I have not been able to download Die Walküre bcause the site says I have downloaded it already five times. I HAVE NOT! In fact I have been unable to download it even once. I' d be glad to write a proper review, if someone cam resolve this problem!!! The file was a Flac zip
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Vito D.✓ Verified Buyer

United States

Overall rating

This is a GLORIOUS Ring!

I have listened to Rheingold, Walkure, and Act I of Siegfried, the Sword Forging Song. Every serious Wagnerian should have this Ring on CD, for several good reasons. The sound quality is excellent, it is in crystal clear monophonic audio with a very good mastering. Knappertsbusch is at the peak of his powers, and his interpretation in Bayreuth in 1958 exceeds the already high bar from the two previous seasons. The principals are in uniformly marvelous voice, Hans Hotter as Wotan/Wanderer, Astrid Varnay as Brunnhilde, and Wolfgang Windgassen as a strong, virile Siegfried. I have this performance on the Walhall release, and the sound quality here seems better to my ears. Before I slip this mortal coil, I would love to hear a contemporary Bayreuth Ring that rivals this recording, but I am afraid this level of operatic magic is once in a lifetime.
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