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.” Karajan’s Wagner was concerned with beauty, lyricism and structure, and for his monumental Ring cycle he 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, conveying a rich, colourful, transparent, in many moments almost chamber music-like orchestral sound that is still unrivalled today.

- The entire Karajan Ring in lossless 24-bit / 96kHz HD Audio on one Blu-ray Audio disc

- Remastering by Emil Berliner Studios

- Digipack, 48-page booklet, with original cover art

- Essays in English and German from Karajan biographer Richard Osborne

- Rare artist photos from the recording sessions and from the rehearsals for the live Salzburg productions