Das Rheingold

Composer: Wagner, Richard

Librettist/Text Author: Wagner, Richard

Conductor: Karajan, Herbert von

Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Alberich: Kelemen, Zoltan

Donner: Kanel, Vladimir de

Donner: Roar, Leif

Erda: Finnila, Birgit

Erda: Modl, Martha

Fafner: Hendrikx, Louis

Fasolt: Nienstedt, Gerd

Fasolt: Ridderbusch, Karl

Flosshide: Randova, Eva

Freia: Altmeyer, Jeannine

Fricka: Fassbaender, Brigitte

Froh: Esser, Hermin

Loge: Schreier, Peter

Mime: Stolze, Gerhard

Wellgunde: Moser, Edda

Woglinde: Rebmann, Liselotte

Wotan: Stewart, Thomas

Producer: Hohlfeld, Horant

Set Designer: Wakhevitch, Georges

Costume Designer: Wakhevitch, Georges

Stage Director: Karajan, Herbert von

Television Director: Karajan, Herbert von

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Playing Time: 02:25:36

Catalogue Number: A05004571

Synopsis

Das Rheingold

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World of the gods – world of the earthly elements: Herbert von Karajan has succeeded in forcefully underscoring the contrast between the world of the gods and the earthly realm. The Rhinegold already bears within it a foreboding of the Gotterdammerung. In the Prelude, man – the hero – does not yet appear; what checks the power of the gods are the earthly elements: fire, water and earth. Wotan only appears to be victorious when he enters Valhalla with his fellow gods. The actual victor is Loge.

Based on a production from the Salzburg Easter Festival, Georges Wakhevitch has produced stage settings and transformations that support Karajan's concept with every possible means. The depths of the Rhine are dynamic and full of natural motion, but the inside of the earth – Nibelheim – with its corridors and vaults which lead to Alberich's realm, also has something organically proliferating about it. With his singers – foremost among them Peter Schreier – Karajan has an ensemble that fully conforms to his intentions. Thomas Stewart is a nobly singing Wotan. Next to him is the grandiose Brigitte Fassbaender as Fricka, a profoundly embittered figure.