Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan - Wagner: Das Rheingold

Release Date: 10th April 2026
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalogue No: 4868358

According to Karajan’s own account, it was during the summer of 1965, while he was working on Boris Godunov, that he had a vision of the future: “I suddenly sensed a burning desire to stage and conduct Wagner in Salzburg.” His dream – very much in the spirit of Wagner himself: “My baton shall teach future ages which road they have to take.” 

For his monumental Ring cycle Karajan assembled a world-class cast of singers who possessed instrumental tone and were able to deliver a vivid and clear declamation of the text; and his Berliner Philharmoniker were more than capable of rising to the occasion. Karajan’s Ring Cycle is quite distinct from others: a more otherworldly approach concerned with beauty, lyricism, and structure.

This extraordinary recording project will now be released in the Original Source Series for highest audiophile sound; for the first time OSS will use with the original stereo master a 2-track tape as source. Starting with 4-track in 2023 and expanding to 8-track in 2024, the year 2026 will see the first 2-track OSS release.