Opera North: Ring

**Bert Coules** · 26-02-17, 11:12

Belated thanks to DracoM for that link: though I've only yet dipped in to the cycle, it strikes me as a fascinating, intelligent and beautifully-wrought production. I didn't like everything I saw - theatrical convention or no, there's something inherently ludicrous in seeing a character threaten another with a shotgun while describing how he's about to bash him with a hammer (and that's just one example) - but it's splendid to see the precise personal direction and the thoughtful and often subtle acting, something only achievable with an ensemble performance. In that regard it reminds me of the first ENO Ring. I'm looking forward to viewing the whole thing.

Bert

**DracoM** · 26-02-17, 11:49

And in Gotterdammerung, the Norns are in the audience!
And I was a bit sniffy about Siegfried struggling to understand a pinafore, but, but.......singing and playing are first rate.
Hagen is a shady piece of work too, with all manner of totalitarian / gangsta / armed guards overtones. It's the modern world of Hagen the 'player' outsmarting the naive newcomer down to our world of mortals i.e. Siegfried.

**jonfan** · 28-02-17, 22:19

Having revisited the Golden Ring the excitement of Culshaw and his team is infectious. They're breaking new ground in presenting opera and with cutting-edge sound reproduction. Excitement of the new pervades the ON Ring in a similar way. What struck me as incredible in the '60s film was that nearly everyone smoked, even in the studio and control room where one would think singers would be more careful to avoid smoke filled environments. How times change.

**LHC** · 02-03-17, 18:03

Originally posted by jonfan View Post

Having revisited the Golden Ring the excitement of Culshaw and his team is infectious. They're breaking new ground in presenting opera and with cutting-edge sound reproduction. Excitement of the new pervades the ON Ring in a similar way. What struck me as incredible in the '60s film was that nearly everyone smoked, even in the studio and control room where one would think singers would be more careful to avoid smoke filled environments. How times change.

It is surprising that there are singers who smoke even now. I believe that Rene Pape is a heavy smoker (and it doesn't appear to have affected his voice or breath control yet), and I have seen a few others smoking. I was in a restaurant in Vienna a few years ago, and the Italian baritone Marco Vratogna (who had been singing at the Staatsoper that evening) was seated at another table and was smoking like a chimney.

In the Golden Ring film, I recall that Fischer-Dieskau was one of the singers puffing away on the fags.

Others are more careful. Kiri always made a fuss apparently if anyone lit up in her presence (quite rightly too).

**jonfan** · 10-05-17, 09:43

Royal Philharmonic Society awards: Wagner production steals show

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/may/09/royal-philharmonic-society-awards-opera-north-wagner-production-two-awards

Opera North wins for its acclaimed stagings of Wagner’s Ring Cycle on an encouraging night for companies based outside London

This comes as no surprise but it's good to have an excuse to applaud the ON Ring and Richard Farnes all over again.

**Bert Coules** · 10-05-17, 10:06

Farnes, who is leaving the Leeds-based Opera North after 12 years in the role, goes out on a high with judges praising him as 'one of the finest Wagnerian interpreters of our time'.

What a splendid accolade.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 10-05-17, 10:19

Originally posted by jonfan View Post

https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...ion-two-awards

This comes as no surprise but it's good to have an excuse to applaud the ON Ring and Richard Farnes all over again.

Good to notice, too, the references to ON's "acclaimed stagings" of the Ring (isn't it, Alpie?) and to Jo Pohleim's "particularly strong" protrayal of Alberich.

Originally posted by Bert Coules View Post

Farnes, who is leaving the Leeds-based Opera North after 12 years in the role, goes out on a high with judges praising him as 'one of the finest Wagnerian interpreters of our time'.

What a splendid accolade.

It is indeed, Bert - and entirely justified and fully merited. But (alas) RF left his role at ON last year - his successor didn't last 12 months (also alas). RF is returning as a guest to conduct Verdi's Mascara next year - which might even persuade me to go and see it.

**Conchis** · 13-05-17, 16:14

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

Good to notice, too, the references to ON's "acclaimed stagings" of the Ring (isn't it, Alpie?) and to Jo Pohleim's "particularly strong" protrayal of Alberich.

It is indeed, Bert - and entirely justified and fully merited. But (alas) RF left his role at ON last year - his successor didn't last 12 months (also alas). RF is returning as a guest to conduct Verdi's Mascara next year - which might even persuade me to go and see it.

Is Marcovic's departure still shrouded in mystery?

Farnes and ON thoroughly deserve these accolades.

**jonfan** · 29-05-18, 21:32

The whole of the Opera North Ring is on You Tube for free through Opera Vision.

**Bert Coules** · 29-05-18, 22:28

Thanks very much for that; I'll take a look.

**jonfan** · 30-05-18, 07:41

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https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYAQ82KNFI_cmyaMzZ57DV9hIFVwQbzFy

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Wagner's Ring Cycle, Part 1 Das Rheingold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=focAvjirQgw

BBC and opera North Concert Performance of Wagners Ring Cycle

Wagner's Ring Cycle, Part 2 Die Walküre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjeOCWJjNlE

video, sharing, camera phone, video phone, free, upload

Forgot to give the links.

**Alison** · 30-05-18, 07:57

Great resource, I’m hoping to do the whole cycle with the estimable Farnesy!

Thank you jonfan.

**Mal** · 30-05-18, 13:41

Originally posted by jonfan View Post

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...7DV9hIFVwQbzFy

Wagner's Ring Cycle, Part 1 Das Rheingold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=focAvjirQgw

BBC and opera North Concert Performance of Wagners Ring Cycle

Wagner's Ring Cycle, Part 2 Die Walküre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjeOCWJjNlE

video, sharing, camera phone, video phone, free, upload

Forgot to give the links.

That's only two parts of the Ring Cycle. Are the other two parts available? (I tried some likely looking links but they led to "unavailable").

**jonfan** · 30-05-18, 14:17

Originally posted by Mal View Post

That's only two parts of the Ring Cycle. Are the other two parts available? (I tried some likely looking links but they led to "unavailable").

Sorry you’re having difficulty Mal. The top link has Siegfried and Gotterdammerung and the other two are Das Rheingold and Die Walkure respectively. Seems to work ok for me.