ROH: Ring 2018

[Conchis]

I wonder whether they meant punctilious rather than perfunctory, Fricka being all about observing the rules. Opera reviewers are often guilty of trying to sum up singers with a few ill-chosen words. David Nice in the Arts Desk was more appreciative, he also mentioned that Lundgren was feeling ill for the first two operas and that Vinke will be giving his 100th performance as Siegfried during this run.

Maybe a short-sighted sub-editor is to blame!

The best Fricka I have seen was Susan Bickley at the Halle's concert (semi-staged) performance in 2016. She managed to make her a completely sympathetic character.

[underthecountertenor]

I wonder whether they meant punctilious rather than perfunctory, Fricka being all about observing the rules.

That's pretty convincing, and nor would my first reaction be to blame a sub (pace Conchis). As I said above, I sometimes wonder whether reviewers know the meaning of the words they use.

[Darkbloom]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ5xq73FJ8I

This is a treasure trove of interviews (in German) featuring an enormous number of singers mostly, but by no means all, connected with Wagner. This one is with Hans Hotter, but he also interviews Moll, Schreier, Adam, Neidlinger, Ridderbusch, King, Konya, Greindl etc. Highly recommended.

[Conchis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ5xq73FJ8I

This is a treasure trove of interviews (in German) featuring an enormous number of singers mostly, but by no means all, connected with Wagner. This one is with Hans Hotter, but he also interviews Moll, Schreier, Adam, Neidlinger, Ridderbusch, King, Konya, Greindl etc. Highly recommended.

I saw a few of these a couple of years ago. Thanks for the reminder! :)

[Darkbloom]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/oct/02/wagner-gotterdammerung-royal-opera-house-keith-warner-review

The Guardian gives it a positive review. This is probably all good news for people who have tickets for later performances when things (particular Walkure) might have settled down a bit.

There was an interesting discussion in the comments about whether the Ring is a tragedy or not. In my view, no. I think it diminishes the work to view it that way.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I thought the Guardian reviewer was wrong about Vinke . He gave a tremendous performance and rightly received a tumultuous ovation from an audience who know their Wagner. Yes it was a bit one - toned and full- on but , unlike so many of the ROH Siegfrieds Ive seen since the mid -70's, he was still singing at the end and in tune.....

[Conchis]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...-warner-review

The Guardian gives it a positive review. This is probably all good news for people who have tickets for later performances when things (particular Walkure) might have settled down a bit.

There was an interesting discussion in the comments about whether the Ring is a tragedy or not. In my view, no. I think it diminishes the work to view it that way.

I don't think it's a tragedy, either. It certainly is not a pessimistic work.

Some Regietheater types like to play games with it, though. I think it might have been Gotz Friedrich who first had the idea of having the end of Gotterdammerung go straight into the scene for the beginning of Rheingold - ie, with Rhinemaidens frolicking and Alberich waiting.

The best Gotterdammerung conclusion I've seen remains the one from the Otto Schenk Met production, where the stones of the Gibichung hall collapse and the vassals are left staring into a literal twilight. A perfect stage picture - though I believe the end of the 80s SoltiHall Bayreuth production was even more impressive.

[Keraulophone]

This is probably all good news for people who have tickets for later performances when things (particular Walkure) might have settled down a bit.

This makes me look forward to being at the fourth cycle all the more. It has been interesting to read the comments above from seasoned Ring-goers. I’m getting a bit bogged down in Roger Scruton’s The Ring of Truth, though the appendix of musical examples and 186 leitmotifs is useful. Easier to digest has been Eric Schulz’s documentary guide on dvd (and YT) with the excellent Stefan Mickisch illuminating the way at the piano.

Thank you to those who have offered advice on when and where to eat. One luxury we have afforded ourselves is a post-theatre dinner at Clos Maggiore, continuing the forest ambience after Siegfried. It might be F & C for the rest!

[Conchis]

This makes me look forward to being at the fourth cycle all the more. It has been interesting to read the comments above from seasoned Ring-goers. I’m getting a bit bogged down in Roger Scruton’s The Ring of Truth, though the appendix of musical examples and 186 leitmotifs is useful. Easier to digest has been Eric Schulz’s documentary guide on dvd (and YT) with the excellent Stefan Mickisch illuminating the way at the piano.

Thank you to those who have offered advice on when and where to eat. One luxury we have afforded ourselves is a post-theatre dinner at Clos Maggiore, continuing the forest ambience after Siegfried. It might be F & C for the rest!

Don't forget to check out - if you haven't already - Deryck Cooke's double CD introduction using examples from the Solti version. It's worth the price of admission just to hear him say 'Nibbleheim'. :)

[Darkbloom]

This makes me look forward to being at the fourth cycle all the more. It has been interesting to read the comments above from seasoned Ring-goers. I’m getting a bit bogged down in Roger Scruton’s The Ring of Truth, though the appendix of musical examples and 186 leitmotifs is useful. Easier to digest has been Eric Schulz’s documentary guide on dvd (and YT) with the excellent Stefan Mickisch illuminating the way at the piano.

Thank you to those who have offered advice on when and where to eat. One luxury we have afforded ourselves is a post-theatre dinner at Clos Maggiore, continuing the forest ambience after Siegfried. It might be F & C for the rest!

I read the Scruton book earlier this year but I can barely remember what he wrote now. He obviously has a deep knowledge of the Ring but he really got into the weeds with his interpretation of it so no wonder it's a slog to get through. The most disappointing Wagner book I read recently was by Simon Callow. His previous books have nearly always been thoughtful and interesting but the Wagner one was a huge disappointment. He had almost nothing to say and a large chunk was simply a summary of Wagner's autobiography.

[DracoM]

Yes, the Scruton Slog indeed.
Felt like a lot of personal philosophical pre-conceptions filtering everything. Hmm...........

[Conchis]

Mrs. Conchis bought me the Scruton book for my birthday a couple of years ago. I found it readable and enthusiastic but it doesn't linger in the memory. I also had a problem stifling my revulsion for the character of the author (who sadly plays up the stereotype of people who write books on Wagner).

[Barbirollians]

Five stars from the Times for Gotterdammerung today - perhaps unsurprisingly reserving the highest praise for Nina Stemme ( who is surely the greatest Wagner soprano since Nilsson) .

[underthecountertenor]

I read the Scruton book earlier this year but I can barely remember what he wrote now. He obviously has a deep knowledge of the Ring but he really got into the weeds with his interpretation of it so no wonder it's a slog to get through. The most disappointing Wagner book I read recently was by Simon Callow. His previous books have nearly always been thoughtful and interesting but the Wagner one was a huge disappointment. He had almost nothing to say and a large chunk was simply a summary of Wagner's autobiography.

I'm sure we are all impatiently waiting for the inevitable Stephen Fry Meisterwerk on the subject (a large chunk of which will no doubt be simply a summary of Stephen Fry's autobiography).

[Darkbloom]

I'm sure we are all impatiently waiting for the inevitable Stephen Fry Meisterwerk on the subject (a large chunk of which will no doubt be simply a summary of Stephen Fry's autobiography).

He did do that documentary called (I think?) 'Wagner and Me', which predictably was more about Me than Wagner. It was a good way of getting the BBC to subsidise a trip to Bayreuth but of little value otherwisew.