Opera North's Siegfried 'live'

[DracoM]

As I can't see Turi, I'd say he is coming over as a strong, genuinely heroic Siegfried. Looking forward to Act 3 and Brunnhilde. Band in pretty good nick as well.

[Nick Armstrong]

Anyone else listening to this?

Turi, I'd say he is coming over as a strong, genuinely heroic Siegfried

Yes - caught the last hour of Act 2 after work - very impressed with the Siegfried - sounded like the real thing to me Enjoyed the orchestral contribution too, and very deft, fluent direction by Richard Farnes, who I knew when he was organ scholar at King's Cambridge - fine musician.

I'm not warming to the announcer though, whose grasp on the piece seems to be pretty superficial and who has just informed me that "there are no really outstanding moments" in the opera.

The presenter knows absolutely nothing. He's reading out prepared questions which come straight out of Noddy's Siegfried Book for Kiddies. Groanworthy tat.

Couldn't agree more - I confess to having switched off with a four-letter word*

Patronising, Noddy stuff indeed...





*Not the chap's actual four-letter first name either. This is the person:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002fg04

The curse of "breakfast" strikes again...

"Adam Tomlinson is Radio York's voice of breakfast for the weekends.

Presenting both Saturday and Sunday breakfast programmes means plenty of early starts.

As presenter of BBC Radio York's Saturday breakfast show, Adam Tomlinson knows a thing or two about early mornings and gardening.

He's on air between 6am and 9am every Saturday morning.

For the first two hours there's a fine mix of music and chat, plus your chance to win great prizes on "Hit & Miss", the competition that gets you guessing the ages of celebrities, will you be the next champion."





The obvious choice to present a live performance of Siegfried

I mean - look at his cheery face!

[teamsaint]

I know 7% of naff all about Wagner, but I know that the presentation was quite, quite dismal.
Sorry to say I turned off before hearing a note, to enjoy a Simpson Symphony.

As a matter of interest, if I can get past the presenter, would this performance be a good place for utter novices like me to head to?
Cheers, and glad you all enjoyed it so much.

[Nick Armstrong]

As a matter of interest, if I can get past the presenter, would this performance be a good place for utter novices like me to head to?
Cheers, and glad you all enjoyed it so much.

Not going to hang around with Act 3 so can't tell really - the lower voices plus the soprano don't sound as good as the Siegfried. But that may be just me.

I've got it piping through the main stereo, the transmission sounds great - really airy and transparent, the beautifully played orchestral accompaniment coming across a treat. I'm sort of wanting this Wotan bloke to shut up so I can hear them better...

You could do a lot worse than this performance, imo. Wonder what the specialists will think...

[Bert Coules]

As a matter of interest, if I can get past the presenter, would this performance be a good place for utter novices like me to head to?

I'd say no, for several reasons. For a start, Siegfried is part three of a much larger work (forgive me if you know this already). Also, I wouldn't recommend listening to any opera in a foreign language unless you have either an English translation of the text or a vocal score containing one - and in either case it's very useful to have the German there as well, in parallel. In most opera, and in especially in, Wagner, the words are absolutely as important as the music: if you don't know exactly what those people are saying to each other, you're missing the central reason why the work exists in the first place.

You don't say if it's Wagner you're new to or opera in general. In either case, you might find a DVD a better way in than just an audio recording. For the Ring, there are many, with stagings that vary from the traditional to the ultra-modern and quirky. A hunt around on YouTube will turn up a lot of extracts and even some complete performances, or you could see what your local library or one of the online renting services has to offer. Do turn on the English subtitles, though.

If you want just to listen (so as not to be distracted by some avant-garde director's interpretation) my personal recommendation would be to try the English National Opera CD set of the complete Ring. This is in English, which isn't to everyone's taste, but if it proves to be yours the directness of the experience brings the drama alive in a unique way. It's also marvellously sung and conducted.

I hope that helps, but if not do come back with any questions.

[teamsaint]

I'd say no, for several reasons. For a start, Siegfried is part three of a much larger work (forgive me if you know this already). Also, I wouldn't recommend listening to any opera in a foreign language unless you have either an English translation of the text or a vocal score containing one - and in either case it's very useful to have the German there as well, in parallel.

You don't say if it's Wagner you're new to or opera in general. In either case, you might find a DVD a better way in than just an audio recording. For the Ring, there are many, with stagings that vary from the traditional to the ultra-modern and quirky. A hunt around on YouTube will turn up a lot of extracts and even some complete performances, or you could see what your local library or one of the online renting services has to offer.

If you want just to listen (so as not to be distracted by some avant-garde director's interpretation) my personal recommendation would be to try the English National Opera CD set of the complete Ring. This is in English, which isn't to everyone's taste, but if it proves to be yours the directness of teh experience brings the drama alive in a unique way. It's also marvellously sung and conducted.

I hope that helps, but if not do come back with any questions.

Thanks for that thoughtful post, (and also to Caliban).
I shall bear it in mind. not really sure how to approach this, what with limited time due to work etc, but i shall bear your advice in mind.

[RobertLeDiable]

This had been well worth hearing so far - until Brunnhilde came on the scene, that is. Vibrato wide as the M6 - ghastly. The last few minutes are not going to be pleasant listening. As for the presentation: the opera lasts five hours or so, the presentation a minute fraction of that - and yet people actually switch off because they don't like the presenter? Weird idea of priorities.

[Nick Armstrong]

people actually switch off because they don't like the presenter?

For the duration of the interval, yes...

It was Brunnhilde who made my return for Act 3 a short one... because I agree that

This had been well worth hearing so far - until Brunnhilde came on the scene, that is. Vibrato wide as the M6 - ghastly

[teamsaint]

driving home from a long day at work. Annoying presenter or eagerly awaited CD ...no contest.
Doesn't mean the Wagner isn't worth hearing, but time is precious.

[RobertLeDiable]

For the duration of the interval, yes...

Fair enough. Next to this woman, Gwyneth Jones could be a treble from King's, vibrato wise. Ouch!

[Bert Coules]

...people actually switch off because they don't like the presenter? Weird idea of priorities.

By no means. As far as a radio listener is concerned, the presentation is part of the performance. And if it strikes a discordant note then it can colour the entire experience. The only good thing about a shockingly bad presenter is that it is possible to get rid of him without affecting the rest.

Unlike, say, a less than ideal Brünnhilde.

[RobertLeDiable]

Suit yourself. Some of us are committed enough to the music that we can go and make a cup of tea if the presentation is boring, and come back to hear the opera.

[RobertLeDiable]

I see Annalena Persson was Opera North's Brunnhilde in Walkure too. You'd think Farnes would have listened to her before she was booked...

[Bert Coules]

Suit yourself. Some of us are committed enough to the music that we can go and make a cup of tea if the presentation is boring, and come back to hear the opera.

What do you mean? I heard every minute of the opera. I only switched off for the presentation bits. And I'm committed to the drama, not just the music.

Bravo to Mr Turi, who found his vulnerable side and finished almost as strongly as he started. To judge from his online pictures he doesn't look like a Siegfried, alas, but he certainly ended up sounding like one.

Did anyone else find the audience just a shade slow to respond at the end of every act? Maybe it was something to do with the staging.

All in all, an evening well worth tuning in for. But good grief, that presentation. How has the once mighty Radio 3 sunk to such an abysmal low?

[DracoM]

Oh dear.......Brunnhilde. And to think I moaned about Deborah Voigt at the Met recently.
Farnes kept it moving well, and from his sound alone, I thought Turi was pretty OK. She wasn't. Crumbs.