An absorbing and fascinating look behind the scenes at "New Bayreuth" and a very British style of documentary making of the time. Very good, clear sound.

Leave it to Opera Depot to unearth this hidden gem. So fascinating, so exciting, so unexpected.

A fascinating look at how a performance is made. Intimate and informative. Good sound.

This is audio gold. It is an example of the BBC Third Programme at its best at a time, long gone, where in depth and searching, opinionated documentaries were the norm. The patient and thorough analysis of the working progress is incredibly enlightening, with every stage of the development of the staging of the scene between Telramund and Ortrud carefully delineated. Wieland's own input is marvelously energetic and searching. As in a good radio doc the whole event comes vividly to life in the mind's eye. The comments by Dalis and Vinay are so profound and the intellect of these two artists is very evident. It's a shame that there's not more of Wieland speaking, but what is said is so pertinent it doesn't seem to matter. What a revolution in operatic staging was going on back then! And to think that when Dalis was unwell, and had to cancel (what a shame for her after doing 14 hours of intensive work on a 20 minute scene) an artist of the stature of Astrid Varnay was waiting in the wings to step in! Very, very strongly recommended to anyone interested in or working in our profession!