This is a famous performance of Die Walkure, headed by the indefatigable Hotter and Varnay, both of whom are in fine form. Hotter may not be in his best vocal form in this cycle (listen to the Keilberth 1953 Bayreuth cycle for that), but he's unbeatable nonetheless. Listen to the way he shapes and (with Knappertsbusch's assistance) paces the monologue in Act Two and the farewell in Act Three: the work of two giants in a magical partnership. Varnay's war cries are thrilling. Unlike most Brunnhildes, she sings the written trills. Her account of the Todesverkundigung scene with Ramon Vinay is one of the highlights of the performance as is her "War es so schmahlich".Vinay is a sexy Siegmund who occasionally gets ahead of Knappertsbusch's beat (there was probably little rehearsal). Nilsson is a lovely Sieglinde, a role she enjoyed singing very much, but which rarely came her way after she became a leading Brunnhilde. She performs the "Rysanek scream" when the sword is pulled from the tree! Milinkovic is a formidable Fricka as is Greindl's Hunding. The Valkyrie octet is excellent, especially with Scheppan's Helmwige and Ilosvay's Schwertleite. Lenchner is easily identifiable as Gerhilde. Some will insist Knappertsbusch is too slow, but unlike Goodall, he knows where not to dawdle. The sound is superb: onto Siegfried!