Wagner: Siegfried - Parly, Lindholm, Greindl, Stolze, Neidlinger, Köth; Maazel. Bayreuth, 1968
$12.95
Description:
Casting-wise, this Siegfried is perhaps the most intriguing installment of the 1968 Bayreuth Ring Cycle. Of particular interest is the Wanderer, portrayed by Josef Greindl. Known primarily for his villainous roles like Hagen and Hunding, Greindl proves he can shift gears to embody the avuncular yet commanding presence of the Wanderer in Siegfried. His voice navigates this bass-baritone role effectively, offering an intriguing contrast to the virile Wotan that Theo Adam delivered earlier in the cycle.
Ticho Parly brings an attractive, albeit slightly wooden, tone to Siegfried, tackling both Brünnhilde’s fiery challenges and the daunting demands of the title role with heroic resolve. Gerhard Stolze’s Mime is by far my favorite interpretation ever captured in recorded history. His light tenor, twisted masterfully to depict Mime’s grotesque nature, is unmatched.
As Brünnhilde, Berit Lindholm delivers a remarkably fresh and vibrant performance in the final duet. As an added treat, Erika Köth graces the recording as the Waldvöglein.
The sound quality is, for the most part, very good, though this opera, unlike the others in this cycle, has some occasional brief static interruptions.
OD 10700-3
