Rysanek, Konya and Varnay are amazing. The entire recording is a blessing in every way. The conducting is certain, deliberate, and glorious. I'm utterly in love with Konya's voice. The drama is front and center here.

In 1958 Wieland Wagner directed a new production of Lohengrin with the long absent Leonie Rysanek as Elsa (she last appeared in the inaugural season 1951 as Sieglinde) and the new golden-haired boy Sandor Konya in the title role. All of the singers are splendid. Rysanek perfectly captures Elsa's naive, trusting personality while singing with great imagination. Varnay remains the Ortrud of her generation, an compromising portrait of an angry, ambitious woman. She adds a nasty, mocking laugh after "Gott?" in the second act, withering in its contempt. Blanc sings with that mellifluous, distinctive baritone of his and makes Telramund more sympathetic than usual. Konya sings Lohengrin's music with unfailing beauty of tone and creates an appropriately ethereal character. Kieth Engen made most of his career in Germany; he even changed the spelling of his first name to make it look more German. This was his only summer at Bayreuth. He sings well though he is more impressive in other roles. Cluytens leads a lyrical performance that never drags.The sound is excellent. Unfortunately, on disc 2, track 3 there is an odd moment of file corruption (clicking) that lasts for about twenty seconds. It's brief, but disappointing considering how good the rest of the set is.All Lohengrin lovers should hear this performance.

Varnay remains the Ortrud of her generation, an uncompromising portrait of an angry, ambitious woman.

In 1957 Wieland Wagner ,after hearing Sandor Konya in multiple Italian and French Operas( in various Opera Houses in Germany ,like Hamburg,Berlin,Munich ,Dresden ) he was sure that this will be the right Lohengrin for his new Staging in Bayreuth in 1958.Konya was too busy and under Contract . In April of 1958 he finally went to Stuttgart to sing the main Sequences out of the Lohengrin Partitur.Wieland was sure he has his new Lohengrin.Konya's Debut in Bayreuth was the absolute Success ,and Wieland Wagner got what he was aiming for. Konya sung in the next Years to come more than 370 times Lohengrin all over the world. Until today he is one of the most exiting and enchanting Lohengrins. His Lyric Heroic Timbre made him very unique as the Swan Knight.Thank you Wieland to find him ,Thank you Sandor for your Art.

An outstanding live performance. The cast on top of their career. It is a . pity that we have no video of this fantastic production of Wieland Wagner and Andre Cluytens. One of the greatest events at Bayreuth Festival..

One of the greatest live recordings of Richard Wagner's "Lohengrin", featuring and starring some of the greatest artists and singers of the time... THE Wagner singers and artists! Strongly recommended! A must!

A magic performance led by the not so well-known French conductor André Cluytens. The singers capture the essence of the work in great sound.

Superb performances...All 4 leads