I disagree with the assessment of Hofmann, on the contrary he is probably the best recorded Wotan, way better than many more famous singers, still an impressive in his late 50s, even though he is not what he was in the definitive 1934 recording, Grob-Prandl is probably the best Brunnhilde of this period, I prefer her to Varnay and Nilsson. Ralf and Alsen are solid.

The audio quality left plenty to be desired in many moments. As for the cast, I found Getrude Grob-Prandl to be an interesting Brünnhilde, with an outstanding execution of the third act. As Wotan, however, Hofmann was weak. The same befell the rest of the cast. Sadly, Denzler's conducting is uneven: very energetic and fast-paced at times, but not consistently.

and a strong cast throughout. The Act I trio of Ralf, Werth, and Alsen is especially strong. Just listen to Grob-Prandl's last stand against Wotan in Act III. A true goddess.

I don't usually rate a flawed recording five stars. But this one is an exception. (I own a CD of it.)The TWO serious flaws are: 1. As Andy said, Ludwig Hofmann falls flat trying to sing Wotan. He's not up to it. And 2. Act 2 and Act 3 are SEVERELY cut. MOST of the pivotal exchange between Brunhilde and Siegmund--where she tells him he's gonna lose and die, and he threatens suicide--is cut. This is unforgivable, an outrage. And it's just one of numerous infuriating cuts in these two acts. BUTExcept for Hofmann, the principal singers are UNBELIEVABLY FANTASTIC. Torsten Ralf is as heroic as anyone, but has a gorgeous, sweet timbre and impressive dramatic intelligence. He's my favorite Siegmund of all time. And the same can be said of Helene Werth as Sieglinde. Silky, gleaming tone, a little like Gundula Janowitz, but more HUMAN-sounding, and her voice (unlike Janowitz's) is actually large enough for the part, and she really inhabits the character. It's a shame that she recorded so few operas and is in danger of being forgotten. Herbert Alsen is outstanding as Hunding: formidable, and interesting. If an oak tree could sing, it would sound like him. So this is the best Act 1 I've ever heard. And, of course, GGP's Brunhilde is second-to-nobody, MUCH better than Birgit Nilsson in many ways: bigger, deeper voice (no fooling!), tight, rapid vibrato, and a unique burnished-steel timbre. So this cannot be your only WALKURE, but you need to have it.