This is a strong, well-sung Lohengrin with fine conducting by Julius Rudel. Cassilly sings a distinguished hero with his command of dynamics and phrasing. His piano high notes are as impressive as his forte high notes. It's also great to hear his voice before it became worn down from too many Tannhäusers at the Met.Steber sings very beautifully and with real purpose. She could float a high pianissimo with the best of them. Harshaw sings Ortrud with firm, steady tone although she doesn't convey the character's vindictiveness and manipulation like Varnay does. Cassel, Cross, and Mittelman also perform strongly; nobody wobbles. And yet I can't recommend this recording if you're hearing the opera for the first time. I don't know where the mic was, but only the voices downstage are heard clearly. When the singers are upstage their voices are recessed and hard to hear. Ones ears adjust, but it's frustrating because the performance is so good.Rudel uses an abridged edition of the score; there are considerable cuts in each act: uncut Wagner had not come into fashion yet.For fans of the singers.