This recording is of a very highly regarded production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle; the four operas are completely re-staged at Bayreuth every six years. When recorded in 1991/1992 at the famous Bayreuth opera house built by Richard Wagner himself, this version, staged and directed by Harry Kupfer and conducted by Daniel Barenboim, had matured over five years and is still well remembered and much requested.

“From his singing actors director Harry Kupfer has secured performances of unremitting physical and emotional energy… It’s an extraordinary tour de force, thrillingly sung off the text and the action.” – Gramophone

“This monumental version under Barenboim, is perhaps the best on disc” – The Observer

“If a cycle is going as well as the Harry Kupfer/Daniel Barenboim Ring was, the super-test of Götterdämmerung brings out the best in everyone… Barenboim manipulates his orchestra with Furtwänglerian virtuosity, huge rits, pauses and all, tailor-made to the stage drama.” – Gramophone

“All the cast work fiendishly hard… Tomlinson (and Kupfer) illustrate the glorious Prelude that Wagner called ‘Wotan’s last ride’, the lasers make a furious fire, and Evans is in streaming form as the awoken Brünnhilde. Aptly weighty, Furtwangler-ish conducting…” – Gramophone 2006

Cast:
- Brünnhilde: Anne Evans
- Siegfried: Siegfried Jerusalem
- Wotan/Der Wanderer: John Tomlinson
- Alberich: Günter von Kannen
- Loge/Mime (Siegfried): Graham Clark
- Fafner/Hagen: Philip Kang
- Gunther/Donner: Bodo Brinkmann
- Siegmund: Poul Elming
- Sieglinde: Nadine Secunde
- Fasolt/Hunding: Matthias Hölle
- Fricka/Siegrune/Zweite Norn: Linda Finnie
- Mime (Das Rheingold): Helmut Pampuch
- Helmwige/Gutrune: Eva-Maria Bundschuh
- Waltraute (Götterdämmerung): Waltraud Meier
- Freia/Gerhilde: Eva Johansson
- Erda/Grimgerde/Erste Norn: Birgitta Svendén
- Woglinde/Waldvogel: Hilde Leidland
- Wellgunde: Annette Küttenbaum
- Flosshilde: Jane Turner
- Ortlinde: Ruth Floeren
- Waltraute (Die Walküre): Shirley Close
- Froh: Kurt Schreibmayer
- Schwertleite: Hitomi Katagiri
- Rossweisse: Hebe Dijkstra
- Dritte Norn: Uta Priew

Recorded at the Bayreuth Festival, June/July 1991 (Das Rheingold, Götterdämmerung), June/July 1992 (Die Walküre, Siegfried)