Description:

The 1970s era at Bayreuth is often eclipsed by the legendary casts of the 1950s and 60s, when singers like Astrid Varnay, Birgit Nilsson, and Martha Mödl dominated the stage. Yet this decade ushered in a new generation whose vitality and commitment breathed fresh life into the festival. Horst Stein conducts with exceptional command, revealing intricacies in Wagner’s orchestration that are often overlooked.

Catarina Ligendza impresses across all three Brünnhilde roles, her voice secure and powerful throughout. Jean Cox brings youthful vigor and lyrical warmth to Siegfried, making for a well-matched pair. Thomas Stewart imbues Wotan with imposing grandeur, while Gwyneth Jones and James King ignite as Sieglinde and Siegmund. The strong supporting cast includes Karl Ridderbusch as Fasolt, Hunding, and Hagen; Anna Reynolds as Fricka and Waltraute; Franz Mazura as Gunther; Janis Martin as Gutrune; and Ursula Schröder-Feinen as the Third Norn.

The overall sound quality is strong, though there are some intermittent skips in Das Rheingold, Act II of Siegfried, and Act II of Götterdämmerung. For Das Rheingold, a mono version with less dynamic range but without the skipping has been included at no extra cost.

Stereo

OD 11774-14