Wagner: The Ring Cycle Joseph Keilberth 180 Gram Vinyl Records (19) NM

$

339

I bought the set new. I opened the first three operas: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, and Siegfried,listening to them once using a Koetzu Urushi Black cartridge at 1.8 grams of tracking: however, I soon developed hearing loss. Although I now use hearing aids, the sound is not fully appreciated. The final opera Götterdämmerung, is still sealed. To my knowledge, the complete set is out of print, as well as Das Rheingold and Siegfried.

The most coveted performance of Wagner's legendary epic Ring Cycle was in fact recorded by Decca in Stereo live at the 1955 Bayreuth Festival. But until now, that lost performance has remained but a memory.

Finely captured by Testament - of Keilberth's live 1955 performance in Bayreuth was the first stereo recording, released in 2006 by Testament as a limited edition set of 19 180-gram records.

Thrillingly conducted by Joseph Keilberth (called by Astrid Varnay, "a conductor with so much love, who was always there for you"), the cycle provides the opportunity to hear complete for the first time on commercial release the definitive performances of Hans Hotter, Astrid Varnay, Ramon Vinay, Josef Greindl and Paul Kuen, in addition to the much-loved Siegfried of Wolfgang Windgassen, here heard in his prime.

Artists

Das Rheingold Hans Hotter (Wotan), Gustav Neidlinger (Alberich), Georgine von Milinkovič (Fricka), Rudolf Lustig (Loge), Paul Kuen (Mime), Ludwig Weber (Fasolt), Josef Greindl (Fafner), Josef Traxel (Froh), Hertha Wilfert (Freia), Jutta Vulpius (Woglinde), Elisabeth Schärtel (Wellgunde), Maria Graf (Flosshilde)

Die Walküre Astrid Varnay (Brünnhilde), Hans Hotter (Wotan), Gré Brouwenstijn (Sieglinde), Ramón Vinay (Siegmund), Josef Greindl (Hunding), Georgine von Milinkovič (Fricka/Grimgerde), Hilde Scheppan (Helmwige), Gerda Lammers (Ortlinde), Hertha Wilfert (Gerhilde), Elisabeth Scheppan (Waltraute), Jean Watson (Siegrune), Maria von Ilosvay (Schwertleite)

Siegfried Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Hans Hotter (Der Wanderer), Astrid Varnay (Brünnhilde), Maria von Ilosvay (Erda), Ilse Hollweg (Waldvogel)

Götterdämmerung Astrid Varnay (Brünnhilde), Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Josef Greindl (Hagen), Hermann Uhde (Gunther), Gré Brouwenstijn (Gutrune), Maria von Ilosvay (Waltraute/First Norn), Georgine von Milinkovič (Second Norn), Mina Bolotine (First Norn)

Chor und Orchester der Bayreuth Festspiele, Joseph Keilberth