Das Rheingold stands as the Vorabend or “Preliminary Evening” of Wagner’s epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, designed to be free of the traditional operatic concepts of aria and operatic chorus, and presented as the more epic Bühnenfestspiel or “stage festival play”, with the linking of dramatic elements through the use of musical motifs. Recorded at the Bridgewater Hall, and produced by Hallé’s award winning engineer Steve Portnoi, this release captures all the drama of the acclaimed live performance which received rave reviews for conductor, orchestra and cast, alike. Recorded live at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 27 November 2016. Produced by Steve Portnoi. ConductorSir Mark Elder Soloists/ArtistsSarah Tynan, WoglindeMadeleine Shaw, WellgundeLeah-Marian Jones, FlosshildeSamuel Youn, AlberichIain Paterson, WotanSusan Bickley, FrickaEmma Bell, FreiaReinhard Hagen, FasoltClive Bayley, FafnerDavid Stout, DonnerDavid Butt Philip, FrohWill Hartmann, LogeNicky Spence, MimeSusanne Resmark, Erda Catalogue number CD HLD 7549