Richard Wagner ( 1813 - 1883)
Gertrude Grob-Prandl, Helena Braun, Hilde Konetzni,
Elisabeth Höngen, Günther Treptow, Ferdinand Frantz,
Ludwig Weber, Rosette Anday, William Wernigk
Die Wiener Symphoniker
dir: Rudolf Moralt
Gebhardt (2003) ADD mono 24 bit remastering 12 CDs
Live recording in Vienna, 1948-49 ( Good mono sound)
[flac & cue, box cover, booklet & disc scans]
Reviews
"Rudolf Moralt's 1948 Ring cycle from Vienna is a true find. First appearing on the Myto label (still available), and now on Gebhardt, Wagnerians will want this, if only because it offers a wonderful opportunity to hear the largely-unknown and underappreciated Gertrude Grob-Prandl (Brunnhilde in the Siegfried and Gotterdammerung). She is phenomenal--something of a cross between the tremendous power of a Nilsson and the melting beauty of a Flagstad. Others stand out as well, including Ferdinand Frantz' Wotan/Wanderer.
In short, a Ring cycle worth acquiring, not as a first choice, perhaps, but, at such cheap prices, necessary nonetheless." B. Cathey - www.amazon.ca"This transfer to CD by Gebhardt is vastly superior to the other, cheaper one, on Centurion Classics (search "Classical Music" with keywords "Ring Moralt" to see it). It documents the earliest surviving uncut Ring Cycle, recorded 1948/9 in Vienna with stalwarts of the opera, the Vienna Symphony, and conductor Rudolf Moralt. It is a live studio Ring, apparently recorded act-by-act over a month or so, just as Furtwangler's Rome Ring (EMI) was in 1953.
Five stars would be too generous, and it is only fair to say that this outing is just the prelude for some of these voices, towards working with Furtwangler at La Scala and in Rome. Moralt is leisurely and too yielding, but in good sound, with a satisfactory orchestra and some strong casting (including Treptow as both Siegmund and Siegfried), the truly curious will find much to enjoy. Grob-Prandl makes a distinguished contribution as Brunnhilde, but surely not warranting the kind of idolatry indicated by some commentators.
Gebhardt avoid the drop-outs and clumsy editing to be heard elsewhere and have the decency to produce track and cast-lists." Philoctetes - www.amazon.de
"...Moralt's conducting is masterly; you have only to listen to the climax of "Die Walküre" to appreciate that he knew exactly how to pace this music: never rushed but always grand and propulsive. Some find Frantz's Wotan to be rather coarse; it is true that he is not as nuanced or subtle as Hotter or Terfel but his is a fine Heldenbariton more in the George London mode but huskier of tone, with a thrilling ring and admirable stamina - although it helped that this was recorded an act a night. I do not agree with either of the assertions that Frida Leider was unquestionably the best Brünnhilde ever or that Helena Braun is necessarily inferior to her; similarly the largely forgotten Gertrude Grob-Prandl is a formidable Brünnhilde in the last two operas. Günther Treptow was good enough to impress Fürtwängler so much that he immediately signed him up for his La Scala "Ring" the following year. All have big, dark, firm Wagner voices and the supporting cast features many a Wagnerian stalwart of that epoch, such as the stentorian and highly versatile Rosette Anday, who sings four roles: Erda, Fricka, Waltraute and First Norn. Hilde Konetzni is a radiant if occasionally slightly acid-toned Sieglinde; virtually unknown singers like black-toned bass Herbert Alsen as Hunding and Fafner and better remembered stars like Ludwig Weber as Hagen are extraordinarily effective and dramatic.
I am inclined to say that this is not the set to introduce the novice to Wagner but production issues ... clumsy fades and mono sound apart, this is a wholly absorbing, wonderfully sung "Ring" in which little disappoints. The big orchestral moments such as the crossing of the rainbow bridge to Valhalla come across vividly even if they cannot compete with the John Culshaw treatment given to Solti's set."Ralph Moore - www.amazon.com