This is not the Walkure recording for those who are beginning to learn the Ring. The singers are all very good, but the sound, though listenable, is the voices farther are back than most of is would like. There are also weird gaps where the tapist obviously had to turn over the tape or was trying to conserve tape by leaving out orchestral transitions. He or she knew where not to turn over the tape though so all the vocal music is here. Combined with Wich's no-nonsense tempi the preserved performance has enough space on disc three for most of Rheingold's opening scene (there wasn't enough space for the last 3-4 minutes - does the entire performance exist somewhere?)Schroder-Feinen's Sieglinde will be of primary interest because it hasn't been preserved elsewhere. She soars where she can and is certainly sensitive to the text, but she would probably have been better cast as Brunnhilde. Lindholm, however, is in excellent shape in that role with some accurate "Ho-yo-to-hos!" and a secure grasp of what the part is all about. She is especially effective in her long scene with Wotan in Act Three. Roar sings very beautifully without the bark he would acquire later. Brenneis and Meven are both more than capable and English mezzo Faith Puleston is a strong Fricka. A young soprano named Hildegard Behrens is easily identifiable as Helmwige in Act Three's Valkyrie scene.Not a Walkure for the ages, but very well done all the same!

Eine gute Aufführung mit sehr soliden Sängern. Die Wiedergabequalität ist nicht schlecht wenn auch nicht perfekt. Schröder-Feinen gibt eine exzellente Sieglinde und Brenneis einen mittel prächtigen Siegmund. Peter Meven hat eine wohlklingende Stimme mit großem Volumen. Lindholm und Roar sind überzeugend in ihren Rollen. Diese Aufnahme ist ein muß für jeden Wagner Fan, vor allem im Düsseldorfer Raum.