The concluding section of Kempe's 1963 Bayreuth Ring finds everyone in top form. Varnay sounds much better here than she did in the Siegfried two nights earlier: the voice is steadier, the top even more assured. She also doesn't do the scooping of which she was guilty in the late 50's; I suspect someone mentioned it to her and, fine artist that she was, she fixed it.Elisabeth Schartel finally is allowed to assume a leading role in this performance, singing both the First Norn and Waltraute, both of which she performs very well. She is one of the few Waltrautes to sing the role in both Walkure and Gotterdammerung too! Cordes is a stalwart Gunther, singing the optional higher line in the Second Act finale (it's written in the Peters edition of the vocal score). Frick is Evil Personified as Hagen; the "Bela Lugosi of Opera" is not an inaccurate description. The other singers are all great (Hopf loses his place momentarily at the end of the Dawn duet). Kempe leads a powerful, radiant performance. The sound is good though as Robert C. points out below there is some flutter and wow in the final 25 minutes.

many thanks for finding this however my copy does have a very large amount of what us oldies used to call flutter!!!! I presume it is on your original source if a better version comes to light please let me know bob chasey chairman Rudolf kempe society