And they're off! Conductor Gunther Wich seems determined to get through the Ring in less time than anyone else on record and very nearly succeeds. It certainly propels the action forward and makes for an exciting traversal of the Ring. In this performance some of his singers even rush his beat, momentarily getting ahead. Lindholm sings a dramatic Brunnhilde, yet she sounds like she wants to get to her one top C in this opera very quickly. She makes it, Hopf trailing good-naturedly a little behind.One would never guess Hopf was pushing 60 in this performance. In fact, he sounds f

In fact, he sounds fresher here than he does ten years earlier Lindholm brings everything to a satisfying conclusion with a stirring Immolation scene. Her timbre was always a bit acidic sounding, but it was enormously characterful. Meven was one of those German basses who were always good no matter what they sang and he sings Hagen with steady, beautiful tone. Becht, several years before his Alberich in the Chereau Ring is a memorable Gunther. He sings the optional higher line at "Hilf meiner Ehre" in his Act Two scene with Hagen and Brunnhilde, Stadler is very good as Gutrune, Cornell a strong Waltraute with rich low notes and an impressive top. Everyone else is good though the Third Norn is rather shrill.The sound requires patience and love, the singers farther off-mic than most of us would like, but the performance comes through. There are a few brief dropouts in each Act, but nothing crucial is lost. I enjoyed this conclusion to Dusseldorf's Ring and only regret the lack of a complete Rheingold to complete the cycle (twenty minutes of the opening scene fill out the Walkure set.)

I was attracted to buy this live recording by the couple Lindholm/Hopf.The singing of the whole cast is excellent, but the voices are mostly heard in the distance.So you can‘t get real pleasure!Nevertheless this is a historic Soundphotography of some interest and I don‘t regret the persue ...