ROH: Ring 2018

[Belgrove]

The first of three Ring cycles, a revival of Keith Warner's production, commenced this week at the ROH. R3 will broadcast them on 27/10, 3/11, 17/11 and 29/12. On paper the cast looks stronger than on previous occasions, but in today's Times, Richard Morrison stated that John Lundgren's voice was in 'tatters' by then end of the evening, which does not bode well. Anyone been or going?

[Conchis]

Mrs. Conchis got me a ticket for the cinema relay of Walkure as part of my birthday present. I've seen this Ring twice before and don't rate it at all. It's never achieved general critical favour. Why does Covent Garden persist with this production, when it's a dud? Stefan Vinke was a satisfactory Siegfried last time around but John Treleaven was truly dreadful in the premiere.

[Keraulophone]

Having never attended a whole Ring cycle, I thought this a good opportunity to attend the fourth and last one, beginning 26th Oct, which just about fits into half term. Eight nights in the capital plus eating out at unusual times will not be inexpensive, but it was hard enough getting tickets. It’s unlikely that any ordinary punter who is not a Friend of the ROH would have been able to get a seat, such is the demand even though all four nights had to be booked.

Because there are six tiers of Friends, not counting corporate and other sponsors, even as a Friend+, the best seats one of our party could obtain for us was in the fourth row of the amphitheatre towards one side. Each category of Friend can apply to the box one day before the next lower category.

In order to avoid the inflated prices of ROH’s eateries, is it practical to nip out for a meal or snack during the 70- or 80-minute long interval? Even if one can estimate the timing, it seems a little precarious. However, 4.00-10.30pm is a long wait for sustenance. Any advice would be gladly received.

[Belgrove]

I'd eat out Keraulophone. Most pubs do decent food nowadays, and there are plenty in the locale, especially if you move away from the Covent Garden piazza. If you want to push the boat out for Götterdämmerung, try Barrafina on the junction of Broad Ct and Drury Lane for high quality tapas, or 'Great Queen Street' in Gt Queen St(!) for gastropub style food - they do a theatre booking and are good at getting you fed and watered in time.

The production is a bit of a mish-mash, with interesting and provocative ideas in Das Rheingold that do not get followed up thereafter. Perhaps Warner chickened out of converting the goals. Early use of large scale video was soon eclipsed by the Met's Ring, and Warner's use of it in Vanessa this summer shows how that technology has advanced in a decade or so. Quite a bit of thermodynamics (sic) in Götterdämmerung as I recall!

Hope you enjoy it and I look forward to reading your thoughts. Experiencing the Ring in a week is an overwhelming experience.

[Cockney Sparrow]

In order to avoid the inflated prices of ROH’s eateries, is it practical to nip out for a meal or snack during the 70- or 80-minute long interval? Even if one can estimate the timing, it seems a little precarious. However, 4.00-10.30pm is a long wait for sustenance. Any advice would be gladly received.

Quite an expedition for you Keraulophone. Can I suggest - have a good lunch? And take a sandwich (M&S on Long Acre opp the Tube) for the long interval (not sure what "non reserved for paying eatery customers" seats will be available in the bold new world of the "Open Up" development**). And I think Caffè Nero (83-84 Long Acre, check closing time) is the nearest place to get a decent coffee if you don't want filtered.

**I know the ROH restaurant has probably deprived ordinary ticket holders of most if not all of the open balcony seating at the top level (If my memory serves from when I looked at the plans...). There has been a steady development of depriving seats from people who just want to sit down, even with just a drink.

[prb]

Quite an expedition for you Keraulophone. Can I suggest - have a good lunch? And take a sandwich (M&S on Long Acre opp the Tube) for the long interval

I'm sorry to tell you that M&S on Long Acre has closed. I felt a bit bereft on my last couple of trips to ROH.

[underthecountertenor]

In today's Times, Richard Morrison stated that John Lundgren's voice was in 'tatters' by then end of the evening

If so, a bit like Morrison's reputation then.

[underthecountertenor]

Having never attended a whole Ring cycle, I thought this a good opportunity to attend the fourth and last one, beginning 26th Oct, which just about fits into half term. Eight nights in the capital plus eating out at unusual times will not be inexpensive, but it was hard enough getting tickets. It’s unlikely that any ordinary punter who is not a Friend of the ROH would have been able to get a seat, such is the demand even though all four nights had to be booked.

Because there are six tiers of Friends, not counting corporate and other sponsors, even as a Friend+, the best seats one of our party could obtain for us was in the fourth row of the amphitheatre towards one side. Each category of Friend can apply to the box one day before the next lower category.

In order to avoid the inflated prices of ROH’s eateries, is it practical to nip out for a meal or snack during the 70- or 80-minute long interval? Even if one can estimate the timing, it seems a little precarious. However, 4.00-10.30pm is a long wait for sustenance. Any advice would be gladly received.

If, like me, you wouldn't want anything too heavy before the final act, I'd suggest Farmstand on Drury Lane (next door to Barrafina). Limited choice but all good, with quick counter service, and good value. Haven't tried the coffee but I imagine it would be fine. Works comfortably even for 25 minute intervals, so you'd have time to spare for a bracing walk too.

[Ein Heldenleben]

By logging onto the ROH website regularly throughout the day I was able to get stalls returns for Siegfried and Balcony returns for Götterdämmerung a couple of weeks ago. Even at this late stage it should be possible to get returns though amphitheatre tickets seem to crop up very rarely. I'm watching Die Walkure at Vue and giving Das Rheingold a miss as I can't face 2 hours 50 in a seat with not quite enough legroom.
As for eating there's a Pret on Long Acre and if you tip off the good people at Côte on Tavistock street re times you can easily squeeze 2 courses in 75 mins - though you have to watch the ROH tendency to slice 5 mins off the intervals to pick up overruns. Incidentally one of the ticket people at ROH told me that the reason the M and S has closed is because the landlords have massively jacked the rents up.

[Conchis]

A thread about the Ring has become a thread about eating. How did that happen?

[Cockney Sparrow]

If you are going, for the length of time involved, getting coffee and sustenance is no minor matter and helpful to exchange info.

At least you didn't click into, and have to scan through, a page or two of puns.....

[underthecountertenor]

If you are going, for the length of time involved, getting coffee and sustenance is no minor matter and helpful to exchange info.

At least you didn't click into, and have to scan through, a page or two of puns.....

Spot on x 2.

[underthecountertenor]

A thread about the Ring has become a thread about eating. How did that happen?

Keraulophone asked a pertinent question about eating, and some of us provided what we hoped would be helpful answers, that's how.

Ok then, back to the show: I strongly disagree with you that the production is a dud. It's by no means perfect, but I doubt I'll ever see a Ring Cycle that is (although I rather wish I'd seen Kasper Holten's Copenhagen Ring in the theatre - it comes over as a very intelligent and involving production on video), but it has a lot going for it. And Warner has changed it over the years - Rheingold seemed significantly different when I saw the General Rehearsal of it last Saturday. I'm greatly looking forward to seeing Cycle 3 next month.

I agree, however, that it has suffered in the past from a shortage of reliable Siegfrieds. I wouldn't go so far as to describe Treleaven as 'truly dreadful' - it wasn't the most refined singing I've ever heard, and his acting was at times embarrassing to behold, but he got through it. I've heard (and seen) much worse (JFW). I agree, however, that Vinke was better, and hope he'll produce the goods again this time round.

[Prommer]

Mrs. Conchis got me a ticket for the cinema relay of Walkure as part of my birthday present. I've seen this Ring twice before and don't rate it at all. It's never achieved general critical favour. Why does Covent Garden persist with this production, when it's a dud? Stefan Vinke was a satisfactory Siegfried last time around but John Treleaven was truly dreadful in the premiere.

Seconded!

[Prommer]

I think we have room for munching here, as it is quite a logistical operation, the Ring, for anyone's stomach.

Hier gilt's der Kunst (allein)? All very well, but a chap must eat.