Unreleased on a regular album! From the 1958 Bayreuth performance of Knappertsbusch's *Der Ring des Nibelungen*, the complete *Götterdämmerung*! * Wagner: *Götterdämmerung* (Complete) Astrid Varnay (Brünnhilde) Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried) Josef Greindl (Hagen) Franz Andersson (Alberich) Elisabeth Grümmer (Gutrune) Otto Wiener (Gunther) Jean Madeira (Waltraute) Dorothea Siebert (Woglinde) Claudia Hellmann (Wellgunde) Ursula Boese (Flosshilde) Jean Madeira (1st Norn) Ursula Boese (2nd Norn) Rita Gohr (3rd Norn) Bayreuth Festival Orchestra Hans Knappertsbusch (Conductor) Recorded: August 1, 1958 (Mono) Recording Location: Bayreuth Festspielhaus (Live) Various discussions have been held regarding Knappertsbusch's three *Ring* cycles. Especially since the Orfeo label released the 1956 recording from the Bavarian Radio archives, the recognition of Knappertsbusch's *Ring* performances has increased dramatically, with the set recording nearly 1,000 bestsellers on HMV Online alone. For reference, in 1956, Knappertsbusch conducted the *Ring* cycle with Keilberth, and also conducted *Parsifal* alone. In 1957, Knappertsbusch conducted the *Ring* alone, but *Parsifal* was conducted with Cluytens. In 1958, both *Ring* and *Parsifal* were conducted solely by Knappertsbusch. In other words, Knappertsbusch in 1958 was able to conduct freely at Bayreuth after a long time. Opinions vary on the casting, with many considering the 1957 recording the best, but both the 1958 and 1956 recordings are equally lavish, which seems to come down to the listener's preference for the singers. The sound quality, which is a concern, is among the best for a live recording of the time, and it is pleasing to hear the raw orchestral sound and the voices of the unique singers conveying Knappertsbusch's unique, immense swell of performance in the best possible sound quality.