As with Solti's Götterdämmerung recording from Covent Garden (OD #10286), this cast is self-recommending. We've heard most of these singers in these roles elsewhere, but they are galvanized by Solti to give their best. Stolze, Windgassen, and Nilsson are all superb. Windgassen's energy and vocal freshness never flag. He and Nilsson create a joyful conclusion to this Scherzo of the Ring cycle. Stolze's whining and braying may be too much for some listeners, but he sounds like the wheedling, scheming Mime to the life. Ward may not have Hotter's authority (although he always knows what he's about), yet he does have vocal beauty and freshness, qualities that were in short supply from Hotter by this time. Siewert is a superb Erda with her rich, steady contralto. Kraus is an excellent, spidery Alberich and Rouleau sings Fafner's role with his unique, rolling bass (he doesn't bother with most of Fafner's scripted yawns and roars). Holt is a lovely Woodbird with clear diction. The sound is generally good and pitched correctly, but as Theodore S. writes below there is a strange volume drop in the middle of the Mime/Wanderer scene in Act 1. It's not terrible, but it should've been fixed before release. There is also some worn tape at the beginning of the Fafner/Wotan scene in Act 2 (it doesn't last long). Despite these tape glitches, this is a set all Ring fanciers should have.

The two tenors are wonderful, fully as great as on the famous DECCA studio recording which has been around since the vinyl days, but here they are live, so there are occasional small performance-errors, but it's that much more exciting. Birgit Nilsson is fine too.The lower voices are not so thrilling, but they're not that important, except for the Wanderer, and you may recall that on the DECCA Hans Hotter had some weaknesses, including considerable wobble and wayward pitch. David Ward lacks Hotter's uniquely forceful personality and tremendous vocal heft, but his heft and understanding are quite adequate, and his performance is cleaner, and he's not as quirky as Hotter. There are occasional sound-problems, such as an abrupt change in the recording-volume in the first act.

I've never been a fan of the famous Solti/Culshaw Ring cycle. It was actually my introduction to the Ring, and back then I found (as I still do) Solti's "climax every other bar"approach extremely wearisome. Then i discovered the Bohm Ring and my life was changed forever, but that's another story. Anyway, this Siegfried is an interesting document that ably demonstrates what might have been had conductor and producer not been so preoccupied with dazzling their audience with pyrotechnics, but instead had just allowed Wagner's glorious music (along with those remarkable voices) tell the story. Another advantage of this Siegfried over the commercial release is the casting of David Ward as the Wanderer, a huge improvement over the aging Hans Hotter. Unfortunately I found the sound of this recording to be subpar, thus minus the one star.

This is a wonderful all-around performance of Siegfried. Solti is often said to take a “violent” approach to the world and music of the Ring cycle by pummeling the orchestra and our ears, but you would never know it from this performance. Here the conducting, orchestral playing, and singing seem filled with joy and optimism. I remember a MET intermission feature from 1975 when John Culshaw concluded his discussion of the Siegfried/Brunnhilde duet by saying, and it all might have ended there very happily were it not the for the ring on Siegfried’s finger.” Solti, Windgassen and Nilsson indeed make Siegfried the happiest of endings and make you wish it really did on such a note.

all the singers were very good on solti conducting what can you say

This is a truly magnificent recording. Nilsson and Windgassen are driven by Solti to out perform themselves. And the performance does not have the Old Hotter or the depressing Adam. It has a superb Wotan in David Ward. Personally, I have always preferred the Wanderer of George London, but one is delighted with Ward The sound is excellent. This the Solti- Nilsson - Windgassen Siegfried we have been waiting for. Wagnerites have to buy this.

This performance is far far better than the Decca recording.Nilsson and Windgassen are better live and the great Scottish Bass David Ward is better than Hotter in every way. Hotter was a great Wotan but his voice had taken on a huge wobble by this time. Stolze is superb on every level. If anyone wants a Siegfried this is the one to have.