Rating : - A performance as lofty as its subject.
Das Rheingold is my favorite of all of Wagner's Ring. An opera such as this (especially an opera by Wagner in general) is not meant to be experienced by DVD alone. If one watches this, one has to keep in mind the limits of stage filming and recording. The echo of the singers' voices can be heard a few times, and in some cases they sound as if they're way off into the distance even if they're just barely off of the stage, due to limits of microphones. But I cannot judge them or blame them for this: This was only 1990, recent yet at the same time old for sound quality.

Due to its inferior recording (though it was probably the best available at the time), none of the singers' incredible voices were given justice. Only sometimes did some singers shine due to their location on stage in relation to wherever the microphones were.

Fasolt and Fafner, played by Jan-Hendrik Rootering and Matti Salminen respectively (Salminen appears again in Gotterdammerung as Hagen)showed up best in this whole performance. The sonorous tones were breath-taking. Even if the bass on the stereo is all the way down, glass would probably shatter. Alberich played by Ekkehard Wlaschiha also sounded spectacular in this recording. I was stunned by Birgitta Svenden's performance as Erda; it's a shame she had such a small role with the incredible voice she has.

James Morris's award-winning performance as Wotan was not given justice in this recording's quality sadly, nor was Christa Ludwig's performance as Fricka (which almost sounds terrible in this performance but in reality it's the recording's quality).

As for the acting skills: for the most part everyone was spot-on. Throughout the entirety of the cycle, Morris's performance is the apotheosis of Wotan's slow inner downfall as the Ring continues. He begins so proud, but finds himself trapped in a corner he made himself, and finally becomes his own worst enemy, cursing his stupidity by the end of Siegfried.

The set designs were unbelievable. The only way the visual effects could have been more convincing would be if this were produced as a movie instead of a stage performance. Opera is a fine blend of all arts, not just singing and music. The set and costumes are very important as well, and our artists for both did an amazing job.

I would highly recommend seeing Das Rheingold in person. But if you need a DVD performance, this I believe is the best one out there for you.