Release date: 12-10-2006

"It turns out that the landmark account of Wagner's "Ring" with Georg Solti conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, begun in 1958, was not the first stereo version. Before that some enterprising Decca engineers attended the Bayreuth Festival in Germany in 1955 and recorded the "Ring" live, in stereo, with the great German conductor Joseph Keilberth. Testament has been releasing the operas one at a time, first "Siegfried," then "Die Walkure" and now "Das Rheingold." The casts are incomparable, with Hans Hotter, in his prime, as Wotan; Astrid Varnay, the gleaming Brunnhilde; and Wolfgang Windgassen, in clarion voice, as Siegfried. But Mr. Keilberth's organic conducting is the revelation. "Gotterdammerung" is due out early next year." -The New York Times

Composer:
Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) Written: 1854

Performers:
Hans Hotter (Baritone)
Gustav Neidlinger (Bass Baritone)
Paul Kuen (Tenor)
Ludwig Weber (Bass)
Josef Greindl (Bass)
Maria Ilosvay (Mezzo Soprano)
Georgine Milinkovic (Mezzo Soprano)
Rudolf Lustig (Tenor)
Toni Blankenheim (Bass Baritone)
Josef Traxel (Tenor)
Herta Wilfert (Soprano)
Jutta Vulpius (Soprano)
Maria Graf (Mezzo Soprano)
Elisabeth Schärtel (Alto)

Conductor:
Joseph Keilberth

Ensembles:
Bayreuth Festival Chorus
Bayreuth Festival Orchestra

Period Time: Romantic
Form: Opera/Operetta