Reviews have been staggering for Melba Recordings’ SACD release of the State Opera of South Australia’s celebrated 2004 production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, launched this summer in the UK, USA and Europe. The level of international acclaim for the release of the first instalment, Die Walküre (MR 301091-94) has been unprecedented - and it has already won the 2006 ABC Classic FM’s Listeners’ Choice Award. 

Commentators acknowledge the Australian label Melba as being at the forefront of the international new wave of independent record companies revitalising classical music recording.
 
Melba continues its Ring series with the first opera of the Wagnerian cycle, Das Rheingold. This new premiere SACD hybrid surround recording again features the talents of the State Opera of South Australia production with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and an outstanding cast of mostly Australian singers under Israeli conductor Asher Fisch. John Bröcheler sings the part of Wotan, with John Wegner as Alberich, Christopher Doig as Loge and Richard Greager as Mime. The roles of Fricka and Freia are taken by Elizabeth Campbell and Kate Ladner respectively. 

The presentation and packaging of the recording is of the highest quality: a handsome hardbound volume with colour production photos, essays on the opera and the history of the Ring in Adelaide together with a full libretto.

The cycle of four operas - approximately 16 hours in duration - is the world’s first 6-channel super audio CD (SACD) recording of The Ring in surround sound.