Opera North Gotterdammerung

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There is no better orchestral playing anywhere than that of the ON band. And I find Farnes' insights into Wagner's scores more illuminating and powerful than Elder's.

When the Opera North Orchestra plays in the concert hall, I think of of them as the British Vienna Philharmonic, trained to listen as an opera orchestra does, but with the benefit of the relative freedom of the concert hall.

[Flay]

I'm informed that the 18th June is to be recorded for later broadcast!

Yes. On Monday 7th July

[Black Swan]

I see Dutchman is to be a concert performance too.

A

At least in Manchester I find this concert Ring is second best after the recent Halle concert performances, with magnificent brass playing as can be heard on the recording

As I attended both, I have to agree. Both for the orchestra and the singing. But I enjoyed both.

[Flay]

Two great cycle events in Leeds!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Two great cycle events in Leeds!

I think they start off on the Ring Road, too.

[amateur51]

Two great cycle events in Leeds!

Alan Bennett must be thrilled ... as a keen cyclist from Leeeeeds

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've finally given in and have booked tickets for the Lowry on 5th July.

[ostuni]

Anyone else in Brum this afternoon?

[Conchis]

Anyone else in Brum this afternoon?

Yep, I'm outside the Rep, awaiting entry!

[Flay]

I've finally given in and have booked tickets for the Lowry on 5th July.

You won't regret it. I hope you do not plan to drive home after it though!

[grandchant]

ON have said that the problem with the Grand is the size of the pit.
However it's probably best to avoid a full production anyway, remembering that when Scottish Opera did theirs, it overstretched them to the point where the company came close to financial destruction.
Also, I don't think the projections are all that great really. At best they're OK, but they can be at odds with what's actually happening in the music. At the start of Götterdämmerung we get a marvellous orchestral prelude setting the scene perfectly; nothing else is required; but whoever designed the projection seems to think there's nothing happening so let's recap the end of the previous part of the ring. Can't have the audience with nothing to watch. It was the same at the start of Siegfried last year. Some of the final projections about how - yes, everything's come full circle - were a bit patronising, especially as the Ring is about a good deal more than that. Before anyone tells me, yes, I know I can close my eyes.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

You won't regret it. I hope you do not plan to drive home after it though!

No. We're staying in a hotel, using Tesco Clubcard points.

[Conchis]

Superb performance in Brum on Saturday.

I managed to switch seats to the front row from the second act onwards. Jo Pohlheim as Alberich has to be seen to be believed:it's a bravura performance. Those black gloves were a great touch.

If Pohlheim is doing Rheingold next year, I'll be there.

ON May have made a virtue of necessity with this concert production but it was a lot more dramatically satisfying than the last debacle at the Garden.

[Flay]

ON May have made a virtue of necessity with this concert production...

Succinctly put, Conchis. It worked.

The three screens were utilised well, but I kept forgetting to watch as I was captivated by the performers.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I went to yesterday's Salford perfomance. . The projections were tasteful andd enhanced the experience.. An excellent cast with Alwyn Mellor as a superb Brunnhilde, and Rhinemaidens to die for. The men's chorus processing off during Siegfried's Death Music was an inspired idea. And the Orchestra of Opera North (apart from a few lapses of concentration early in Act III) merely confirm my already high opinion of this band.
It's almost a crime that there are allegedly no suitable venues to stage The Ring. To me, this potentially great performance was a soggy compromise. There was a pretence at acting on the tiny strip at the front of the stage, but Brunnhilde had to pretend to hold a spear (ditto Hagen) and the dead Siegfried had to join the death procession on foot all the way home. Yet the Norns did have props.

On the way there, we stopped at a service station on the M62. I met a work colleague, who said he was on his way to the performance himself. I asked him where he was sitting. "With the off-stage horns" was his reply.