The Valkyrie - ENO

[kernelbogey]

I've booked for the last night, 10 December.

Does anyone know if the new libretto is available to purchase?

[underthecountertenor]

I don’t think it is, but if it were I wouldn’t waste my money. One of the several disappointments of the evening for me was the translation, which the cast departed from very frequently (but perhaps not frequently enough).

[Ein Heldenleben]

I don’t think it is, but if it were I wouldn’t waste my money. One of the several disappointments of the evening for me was the translation, which the cast departed from very frequently (but perhaps not frequently enough).

Where do you stand on Matthew Rose’s Wotan ? Mixed reviews .

[underthecountertenor]

I’m afraid I was on the negative side. Started well enough, but I think he lacked the stamina for it. The Farewell lacked body and too often sounded sour.
Standouts for me were Spence, Nicholls and Sherratt.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I’m afraid I was on the negative side. Started well enough, but I think he lacked the stamina for it. The Farewell lacked body and too often sounded sour.
Standouts for me were Spence, Nicholls and Sherratt.

Yes that’s what I thought from some of the better reviewers . Does Sherratt have the range for Wotan? - do you need a top F or something like? The Lebewohl has an E flat I think. Maybe The Wanderer goes higher ..
He’s certainly got the voice.
I see John Tom was at the first night. Must have been weird for him …
Spence is remarkable- he was oustanding in Jenufa . So hard-working,,,,

[underthecountertenor]

Yes that’s what I thought from some of the better reviewers . Does Sherratt have the range for Wotan? - do you need a top F or something like? The Lebewohl has an E flat I think. Maybe The Wanderer goes higher ..
He’s certainly got the voice.
I see John Tom was at the first night. Must have been weird for him …
Spence is remarkable- he was oustanding in Jenufa . So hard-working,,,,

I have to say that Sherratt struck me as a possible Wotan in the John Tom mould. I couldn’t say for certain whether he has the range for it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.
Agreed re N Spence in Jenufa. Hard to believe that he managed it at the same time as preparing Siegmund. He comes over as very level-headed, good-humoured and positive, as well as being an excellent singer.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I have to say that Sherratt struck me as a possible Wotan in the John Tom mould. I couldn’t say for certain whether he has the range for it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.
Agreed re N Spence in Jenufa. Hard to believe that he managed it at the same time as preparing Siegmund. He comes over as very level-headed, good-humoured and positive, as well as being an excellent singer.

His lockdown Wigmore recital of Czech songs was extraordinary. To achieve that level of commitment and communication with no audience must be very difficult.
My instinct is that Brindley is a possible Wotan very much in that dark timbred JT mould which I think suits the character better than ( shall we say ) more genial recent voices…

[underthecountertenor]

His lockdown Wigmore recital of Czech songs was extraordinary. To achieve that level of commitment and communication with no audience must be very difficult.
My instinct is that Brindley is a possible Wotan very much in that dark timbred JT mould which I think suits the character better than ( shall we say ) more genial recent voices…

and

[ARBurton]

Anyone know if Radio 3 and their trusty microphones are attending?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Anyone know if Radio 3 and their trusty microphones are attending?

That’s a very good question. I sincerely hope so

[Ein Heldenleben]

and

Off thread so apologies - Have you been to Macbeth? I hear Simon K and the entire production is stunning.

[LHC]

Off thread so apologies - Have you been to Macbeth? I hear Simon K and the entire production is stunning.

Forgive me for butting in, but I went to the Dress Rehearsal of Macbeth. Simon K is indeed very good. His voice seems to have darkened and grown in size since he last sang it here. That suits the part very well, and if anything his singing is even better than last time (when it was already very fine indeed). Anna Pirozzi as Lady Macbeth is simply stunning. Again, she has sung the role here before (the last time alternating with Netrebko), but is even better this time. Gunther Groissbock is a fantastic bass, and sings Banquo very well, although I'm not entirely convinced he is a natural Verdi bass as I think he's better suited to Wagner. The tenors singing MacDuff and Malcolm are both good, but not in the same league as the other three. The Chorus and Orchestra play wonderfully under the Daniele Rustioni (a previous Young Artist and assistant to Pappano), and the production comes up very well.

I'd certainly recommend a visit wholeheartedly, and getting back on topic, a much better experience overall than the sadly rather disappointing Valkyrie at ENO.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Thanks so much for the off thread post (for which I take full responsibility) . What started me off was hearing Simon K on Radio 3 singing a Broadway tune . I then got sidetracked into listening to the entire album. What an artist - completely in the musical genre and yet singing Macbeth on the ROH live stream on Friday night !

To get back on thread - how lucky we are to so many talented singers in this country and how wonderful that they are back live on stage in the giants of the 19th century stage - Verdi and Wagner .

[Darkbloom]

His lockdown Wigmore recital of Czech songs was extraordinary. To achieve that level of commitment and communication with no audience must be very difficult.
My instinct is that Brindley is a possible Wotan very much in that dark timbred JT mould which I think suits the character better than ( shall we say ) more genial recent voices…

Sherratt is more of a traditional bass than John Tom, who also sang Figaro and the Dutchman. My guess would be that Wotan is a step too far for him. He has a beautiful voice and he seems like someone who picks his roles with care. He's friends with JT so I'm sure he has discussed it. I hope we hear his Gurnemanz soon, that seems a role made for him.

[Simon B]

Sherratt ... I hope we hear his Gurnemanz soon, that seems a role made for him.

Agreed, and it'll make a change after a recent run of impressively realised thugs (Claggart, Fafner, Hunding):

https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-o...-creative-team (Leeds/Gateshead/Manchester/Nottingham/London Summer 2022)

I enjoyed the ENO Walkure yesterday more than I expected to, despite a strangely... low rent... feel to the whole thing. I'm inclined to cut the production some slack on the basis that ENO is presumably even more near-bankrupt than pre-Covid. Maybe the entire budget was allocated to the now-prohibited magic fire... What the Met will make of it, if they go ahead, is anyone's guess. Though what Jones did with Meistersinger for WNO, later reused by ENO (the best production of any Wagner I've ever seen, though other opinions are of course available) also on a likely budget of £3.99 and some left over curtains is a counterargument.