Now that the luxurious hardback book edition with extensive editorial content has not been available for a while, Deutsche Grammophon is reissuing Karajan's monumental Ring cycle, which he recorded together with the Berlin Philharmonic and a stunning cast of singers. 35 years after Karajan’s death, the edition will be issued as a digipack with a 48-page booklet, essays in English and German by Karajan biographer Richard Osborne and rare artist photos from the recording sessions and rehearsals for the live Salzburg performances. For his legendary recording, Karajan assembled a world-class cast of singers who were able to convey his vision – lyrically and with a clear and vivid declamation of the text. This cycle is very different from others: a more other-worldly approach that is all about beauty, lyricism, and structure. We hear a rich, colourful, transparent, in many moments almost chamber music-like orchestral sound that is still unrivalled today. The mastering was done by the experts of Emil Berliner Studios and is already available as a high-res version on the download and streaming platforms.
