It is a terrific shame that Erwin Wohlfahrt died so young (apparently of some kind of virus). He is as smashing a Mime here as he was under Bohm and Suitner at Bayreuth in the mid-60's. He sings the role very well with excellent diction, rarely becoming self-indulgent and shouting. He does venture a few cackles; I was a little surprised as this is a concert performance for the radio. He nearly steals the show from Jean Cox who nevertheless provides a sturdy, well-sung Siegfried. I don't know that Nature equipped him fully for this task, but he makes it work. I suspect he'd be more appreciated today. Adam concludes his participation in this cycle with a excellent Wanderer, his diction again a model of clarity and projection. Kniplova gives us a strong Brunnhilde with good high notes. She doesn't delve into the text the way a Varnay or a Modl would, but one never worries that she can handle the music. Kelemen and Riddersbusch are both very fine in their brief assignments (don't expect any yawns or roars from Riddersbusch as Fafner though). Dominguez sings Erda beautifully. It's so good to hear this role without the wobble we've become accustomed to today.Sawallisch moves things along, allowing this good-sounding performance to fit neatly one act to a disc. Sawallisch was, I think, a rather underrated conductor for much of his career. He certainty shows his abilities here.

Almost everyone in the cast has some weaknesses--Cox is sometimes overwhelmed, Kniplova is not in the same class as the leading Brunhildes, Theo Adam is wobbly, Ridderbusch pinches his low notes, and Kelemen's Alberich is a nasty, unsubtle little thing. But this is STILL at least a four-star performance, BECAUSE.......Erwin Wohlfahrt is one of the best interpreters of the role of Mime in history, every bit as good as Gerhard Stolze was, but Wohlfahrt is not as affected as Stolze. Wohlfahrt is a wonderful sympathetic actor and a gorgeous vocalist with a touch of genuine sweetness in his timbre, especially on high notes. When I listen to him, I actually find myself hoping that Mime's cunning plan might actually succeed this time.Get this performance just for Erwin Wohlfahrt!(Like Fritz Wunderlich, Wohlfahrt died in his mid-thirties.)

merci de nous trouver toujours des raretés