Joseph Keilberth  - Wagner: The Ring Cycle Limited Edition Numbered SEALED!

Joseph Keilberth  - Wagner: The Ring Cycle Limited Edition Numbered SEALED!

Label:

Testament

Genre:

Classical

Product:

ATES 0119

Discs:

19

Note:

180-gram

THE LOST RING CYCLE – NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER 

The most coveted performance of Wagner's legendary epic Ring Cycle was in fact recorded by Decca in Stereo live at the 1955 Bayreuth Festival. But until now, that lost performance has remained but a memory.

Thrillingly conducted by Joseph Keilberth (called by Astrid Varnay, "a conductor with so much love, who was always there for you"), the cycle provides the opportunity to hear complete for the first time on commercial release the definitive performances of Hans Hotter, Astrid Varnay, Ramon Vinay, Josef Greindl and Paul Kuen, in addition to the much-loved Siegfried of Wolfgang Windgassen, here heard in his prime.

These live Bayreuth performances were taped by a Decca team led by Peter Andry and including the noted engineers Kenneth Wilkinson and Roy Wallace, with Gordon Parry as assistant. Using a new six-channel mixer designed by Wallace, the team made both stereo and mono recordings of each opera. Three microphones were placed in the sunken orchestra pit and three were hanged from a lighting bridge about 20 feet above the stage. "This was brilliant; it worked beautifully," remembers Wallace. The company prepared for an expected release, but John Culshaw, recently returned to Decca, vetoed the project. He disliked "live" recordings and already had plans for a studio Ring with Solti, which began four years later. Decca's recording vividly captures in wonderful stereo sound the unique acoustic and stage/pit balance of the Bayreuth Festival theatre with its sunken orchestra, in addition to preserving the leading singers from a Wagnerian golden age in live performance.

This set is sealed and new except for the very first box set.  The first box set has been opened and the first LP has been played once.  It is perfect and flawless so I'm calling this set new because 99% of it is and the 1% that isn't has been treated so well it can be considered new and sealed.  The set sells new for $759.98 US.

General Information

This is a no reserve auction starting at $649.95.

The item will be packaged using a new cardboard box measuring 40 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm with additional packaging material for protection during shipping.

Shipping is via Canada Post or UPS services although if you prefer FedEx or another shipper I will be happy to work with you.  All shipping costs are charged without any mark-up or additional fees.  No handling charges are applied.  No costs for packaging and shipping materials is applied.  The item will ship within two business day of payment received.

Local pick-up is also welcome of course.

If purchasing from overseas I would strongly recommend Canada Post XpressPost or UPS service with tracking and insurance for items valued at $50.00 or more.  If you wish to have this service please let me know and I will quote shipping charges to your location.  If shipping overseas by surface it may take several weeks to two months to arrive depending on where you are located.  

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