Wolfgang Koch [sic - Koch actually sings Alberich, Robert Bork Gunther] and Anna Gabler are outstanding as Gunther and Gutrune. Simone Young's conducting is ardent, sometimes coarse, but always engaged; her orchestra is almost tireless; and the ecstatic reception of the audience is fully understandable.

Young is no cosseter of purple passages: set pieces...always serve the drama rather than becoming time out for purely orchestral display. The cast is headed by veterans...experience which shows in their working of Wagner's text. Tomlinson in particular takes Hagen into areas several layers above mere black villainy. Franz is a brave and enthusiastic actor of Siegfried's moods; Lang makes much of Waltraute's emotional blackmail.

Young gets admirable playing through all three acts, yet without any real dramatic coherence...Among the cast, I'll certainly want to return to John Tomlinson's Hagen. At this stage the voice has its rusty edges, but the veteran bass's craggy strength is entirely suited to the role...This justly celebrated Wagner interpreter has a more than worthy partner in Wolfgang Koch, who firmly projects Alberich's bitterness, desperation and outrage.