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Siegfried
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.
Track List
Act I
1. Vorspiel
2. Zwangvolle Plage! Müh' ohne Zweck!
3. Hoiho! Hoiho! Hau' ein! Hau' ein!
4. Als zullendes Kind zog ich dich auf
5. Einst lag wimmernd ein Weib
6. Aus dem Wald fort in die Welt ziehn
7. Heil dir, weiser Schmied!
8. Wie werd' ich den Lauernden los?
9. Viel, Wanderer, weisst du mir von der Erde rauhem Rücken
10. Nach eitlen Fernen forschtest du
11. Heda! Du Fauler! Bist du nun fertig!
12. Fühltest du nie im finstern Wald
13. Hättest du fleissig die Kunst gepflegt
14. Notung! Notung! Neidliches Schwert!
15. Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede, mein Hammer, ein hartes Schwert!
2. Zwangvolle Plage! Müh' ohne Zweck!
3. Hoiho! Hoiho! Hau' ein! Hau' ein!
4. Als zullendes Kind zog ich dich auf
5. Einst lag wimmernd ein Weib
6. Aus dem Wald fort in die Welt ziehn
7. Heil dir, weiser Schmied!
8. Wie werd' ich den Lauernden los?
9. Viel, Wanderer, weisst du mir von der Erde rauhem Rücken
10. Nach eitlen Fernen forschtest du
11. Heda! Du Fauler! Bist du nun fertig!
12. Fühltest du nie im finstern Wald
13. Hättest du fleissig die Kunst gepflegt
14. Notung! Notung! Neidliches Schwert!
15. Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede, mein Hammer, ein hartes Schwert!
Act II
16. Vorspiel
17. In Wald und Nacht vor Neidhöhl' halt' ich Wacht
18. Deinen Sinn kenn' ich wohl
19. Fafner! Fafner! Erwache, Wurm!
20. Wir sind zur Stelle!
21. Dass der mein Vater nicht ist
22. Haha! Da hätte mein Lied mir was Liebes erblashen!
23. Hei! Siegfried gehört nun der Niblungen Hort!
24. Wohin schleichst du eilig und schlau
25. Was ihr mir nützt, weiss ich nicht
26. Ich will dem Kind nur den Kopf abhau'n!
27. Heiss ward mir von der harten Last!
28. Hei! Siegfried erschlug nun den schlimmen Zwerg!
17. In Wald und Nacht vor Neidhöhl' halt' ich Wacht
18. Deinen Sinn kenn' ich wohl
19. Fafner! Fafner! Erwache, Wurm!
20. Wir sind zur Stelle!
21. Dass der mein Vater nicht ist
22. Haha! Da hätte mein Lied mir was Liebes erblashen!
23. Hei! Siegfried gehört nun der Niblungen Hort!
24. Wohin schleichst du eilig und schlau
25. Was ihr mir nützt, weiss ich nicht
26. Ich will dem Kind nur den Kopf abhau'n!
27. Heiss ward mir von der harten Last!
28. Hei! Siegfried erschlug nun den schlimmen Zwerg!
Act III
29. Wache, Wala! Wala! Erwach'!
30. Stark ruft das Lied
31. Dir Unweisen ruf' ich ins Ohr
32. Mein Vöglein schwebte mir fort!
33. Kenntest du mich, kühner Spross
34. Zieh hin! Ich kann dich nicht halten!
35. Selige Öde auf sonniger Höh'!
36. Heil dir, Sonne!
37. Ewig war ich
38. Dann bist du mir, was bang du mir warst und wirst!
30. Stark ruft das Lied
31. Dir Unweisen ruf' ich ins Ohr
32. Mein Vöglein schwebte mir fort!
33. Kenntest du mich, kühner Spross
34. Zieh hin! Ich kann dich nicht halten!
35. Selige Öde auf sonniger Höh'!
36. Heil dir, Sonne!
37. Ewig war ich
38. Dann bist du mir, was bang du mir warst und wirst!
Customer Reviews
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4.3
Based on 9 reviews
✓ Verified Buyer
United States
Not One of Bayreuth's Best
Fafner is sung by Gerd Nienstedt, not Peter Meven as listed. Meven did sing Fafner at Bayreuth but only once, in 1971. The higher voices let this performance down somewhat: Parly and Lindholm are just adequate as the lovers, Stolze an exaggerated Mime, Koth an edgy, twittery Forest Bird. The lower voices fare much better: Neidlinger's legendary Alberich always impresses, Greindl is a commanding Wanderer with impressive weight of voice allied to intelligent interpretation, and Nienstedt is an overpowering Fafner (though the amplification system gets equal credit). Hoffgen's Erda is another asset.Rather swift and non-atmospheric conducting by Maazel, but he brings welcome excitement to many scenes. Sound is merely okay.
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✓ Top Reviewer
United States
A Siegfried Worth Hearing!
Maazel leads a speedy Siegfried, but that's not a complaint. He drives the Scherzo of the Ring along with ebullience. His cast has some familiar people in unfamiliar roles. Greindl must have been hankering after the Wanderer or why else would Wolfgang have cast him in it? In the event, he is good with excellent diction. The voice itself is beginning to sound it's age and Greindl'swas never a voice
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United States
Continued From Below
Greindl never had a voice of great beauty. Interesting to hear him in a different role though. Parly was a Heldentenor hopeful whose career didn't make him a star. Yet he did appear at Bayreuth, the Met, and other international houses. It's a good voice though one without a lot of color. He paces himself well and gives a good account of the final scene with Lindholm. Lindholm is a sturdy Brunnhilde who is especially eloquent as she explains why Siegfried's mother won't be coming back to him. She makes the final top C after a big preparatory breath. I liked her; she's a very human Brunnhilde.Neidlinger and Stolze are terrific as the Nibelungen as is Hoffgen as Erda. Stolze tends to overact a bit, but he's enjoying himself so much I won't complain. Koth sings the Woodbird with clean diction though her actual tone is a little shrill. Peter Meven is listed as Fafner, but the Bayreuth website insists it's Gerd Nienstedt. Whoever it is is very good with a rich, solid bass and no wobble.The sound is good. There is some occasional static in the last two acts. It's very mild though and doesn't disturb the listening experience.
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Germany
Very good!
I love it! Greindl as Wanderer is excellent, Parly much better kept as in Glasgow ... Lindholm very good. Stolze as Mime fabulous! And Erika Köth a brilliant Woodbird, certainly one of the best in the history of recording.
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Germany
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Slovenia
Martin Ramor
It is a very good Siegfried. Lindholm, Stolze, Neidliinger and Greindl are all very fine. Parly it is a bit tired in the end, but it is nice to have a new Wagner Cd with him. Orchestra and Maazel are excellent.
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France
PHILIPPE GUILLON
J'ai acheté cette version de Siegfried car je voulais connaître le Wanderer de Greindel. J'en suis très heureux. Bien sûr la voix est plus noire que celle d'un "Wotan habituel" et cela me fait penser au "Wotan-wanderer" de Uhde (Bayreuth 1960) que j'aime beaucoup. Greindl est un immense chanteur (grand Gurnemanz de Knappertsbusch 1954 par exemple et lieder de Schubert aussi). Et je trouve que c'est important d'écouter des versions un peu "alternatives" comme celle-ci, même si j'adore Hotter et aussi Hines bien sûr! Version à connaître!
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Sweden
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Mark Hood
This has to be the fastest Siegfried on record – and the speeds don’t do justice to the singers.The tempos are driven and relentless.The sound is decent to good.
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