Wagner’s complete Ring cycle under Rudolf Kempe, recorded live at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1957 is being released shortly by Testament.

The cast is headed by a galaxy of top class singers at the peak of their powers, including Hans Hotter (Wotan/Wanderer), Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Ramón Vinay (Siegmund) and Sylvia Fisher (Sieglinde).

The supporting singers are equally distinguished and include Otakar Kraus (Alberich), Georgine von Milinkovic? (Fricka), Kurt Böhme (Hagen), Hermann Uhde (Gunther) and Joan Sutherland (Woglinde).

The annual Ring cycle at Covent Garden in the late 1950s was highly regarded by audiences and critics alike for presenting the leading Wagnerian singers of the day in outstanding performances, most of which at that time were conducted by the much admired Rudolf Kempe.

The transfers are being made using high quality source material from Lord Harewood’s collection.

Artists

Das Rheingold

Hans Hotter (Wotan), Erich Witte (Loge), Otakar Kraus (Alberich), Georgine von Milinkovic (Fricka), Kurt Böhme (Fasolt), Frederick Dalberg (Fafner), Elisabeth Lindermeier (Freia), Robert Allman (Donner), Edgar Evans (Froh), Peter Klein (Mime), Maria von Ilosvay (Erda), Joan Sutherland (Woglinde), Una Hale (Wellgunde), Marjorie Thomas (Flosshilde)

Die Walküre

Ramon Vinay (Siegmund), Sylvia Fisher (Sieglinde), Frederick Dalberg (Hunding), Birgit Nilsson (Brünnhilde), Amy Shuard (Gerhilde), Una Hale (Ortlinde), Edith Coates (Waltraute), Jean Watson (Schwertleite), June Grant (Helmwige), Noreen Berry (Siegrune), Barbara Howitt (Grimgerde), Marjorie Thomas (Rossweisse)

Siegfried

Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried), Hans Hotter (Der Wanderer), Jeannette Sinclair (Waldvogel)

Götterdämmerung

Kurt Böhme (Hagen), Hermann Uhde (Gunther), Elisabeth Lindermeier (Gutrune), Maria von Ilosvay (Waltraute), Maria von Ilosvay (1. Norn), Constance Shacklock (2. Norn), Amy Shuard (3. Norn)

Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Rudolf Kempe