On February 22nd, 1969, I saw my first RING opera: Herbert von Karajan conducting (and directing) RHEINGOLD. The Maestro was to have been at the helm of the entire Cycle, but that did not come to pass. He had commenced his Met career with WALKURE in 1967, but a falling out with Sir Rudolf Bing prompted him to withdraw from SIEGFRIED and GOTTERDAMMERUNG.
On that February weekend in 1969 – the most thrilling weekend in all my opera-going experience – the RHEINGOLD matinee was book-ended by an all-star FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN the evening before and a kozmic TURANDOT – in the evening following the RHEINGOLD – wherein Birgit Nilsson sang the title role opposite Montserrat Caballe’s Liu.
The RHEINGOLD recently turned up on YouTube, but there’s no telling how long it will be available to hear; it’s great to be listening to it again, and to feel the excitement that the conductor and singers had kindled. Among a stellar cast, Anna Reynolds stepped in as Fricka for an ailing Josephine Veasey.
It is fantastic to be able to re-live this performance after so many years; listen here.
Oberon's Glade 