This Gotterdammerung proves to be an excellent finale to the 1972 Cologne Ring cycle. All of the singers are terrific. Dernesch sounds more relaxed than she did for Karajan. She manages all the top notes well including the C at the end of the Prologue that some sopranos duck. She is a passionate, noble Brunnhilde as she was in Karajan's studio and Salzburg Festival cycles. She doesn't scream when Siegfried tears the ring from her hand at the end of Act One, but that is a minor complaint.Esser proves that his commanding Siegfried in the last opera was not a fluke; he is just as strong here. Franzen proves a formidable Hagen with his powerful, beautiful bass and Heiner Horn is a worthy Gunther. I had never heard of Gerlinde Lorenz, but she is a lovely Gutrune (and speaking of screams, hers is terrific in the Third Act!) Janet Coster is just as good as Waltraute as she was as Fricka - a lovely, underrated singer. The Norns and Rhinemaidens are excellent, every bit as good as those heard at the bigger houses.Wallat's conducting keeps everything moving. For whatever reason, he cuts Gutrune's big scene in Act Three, a cut I thought only Wieland Wagner made. The sound is very listenable with the voices heard clearly over the orchestra. This entire cycle is very good, the Gotterdammerung especially so!