Wagner: Die Walküre - Varnay, Hotter, Nilsson, Vinay, Greindl, von Milinkovic; Knappertsbusch. Bayreuth, 1957

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Astrid Varnay brings robust athleticism, as well as touching vulnerability to the title role.
Hans Hotter was not having the best day vocally, but he still manages to capture the stoic mourning of Wotan's final moments to devastating effect.
A young Birgit Nilsson, freshly promoted from Valkyries and other smaller parts, gets a chance to sink her teeth into the role of Sieglinde. She brings all of her signature vocal steel, as well as a lyricism that would begin to elude her as she waded deeper into the Wagner pool.
The baritonal color, power and sweet lyricism of Ramón Vinay's tenor voice make him the ideal Siegmund.