Tannhäuser - Bayreuth 2021 on R3

[Maclintick]

Sublime orchestral playing under conductor Axel Kober, who's learnt his Wagner in the time-honoured kapellmeister-isch apprenticeship in regional houses, but wobblesome Elisabeth (Lise Davidsen) & shouty, off-pitch Tannhäuser (Stephen Gould) ruined this for me. Markus Eiche's Wolfram tonight was efficient rather than magical if one rather unfairly compares him to Christian Gerhaher at the ROH in 2011.

[Joseph K]

Sounded alright when I listened to the latter half of the first act - my attention though, was not exclusively focused on this opera. I thought it sounded ok ... I'm sorry I can neither confirm nor deny Maclintick's assessment. Nice hearing Barbara Eichner between Acts...

[Ein Heldenleben]

Sublime orchestral playing under conductor Axel Kober, who's learnt his Wagner in the time-honoured kapellmeister-isch apprenticeship in regional houses, but wobblesome Elisabeth (Lise Davidsen) & shouty, off-pitch Tannhäuser (Stephen Gould) ruined this for me. Markus Eiche's Wolfram tonight was efficient rather than magical if one rather unfairly compares him to Christian Gerhaher at the ROH in 2011.

The orchestral playing was of the highest order. Something has happened to Lise Davidsen - she definitely has a wider vibrato than when I first heard her. Usually at Bayreuth the singers are able to take the volume down a bit because of the orchestra cover. There was a bit of a sense of strain all round last night.

[DracoM]

Band good - shame about Gould/Tannhauser though! .

[Darkbloom]

The orchestral playing was of the highest order. Something has happened to Lise Davidsen - she definitely has a wider vibrato than when I first heard her. Usually at Bayreuth the singers are able to take the volume down a bit because of the orchestra cover. There was a bit of a sense of strain all round last night.

I imagine Davidsen is succumbing to the fate of a lot of promising singers who take on too much early in their careers. It can't be easy when you have all the major houses trying to book you but if you want a long career you've got to be careful in your choices. Once the voice starts to go it's usually an irreversible decline.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I imagine Davidsen is succumbing to the fate of a lot of promising singers who take on too much early in their careers. It can't be easy when you have all the major houses trying to book you but if you want a long career you've got to be careful in your choices. Once the voice starts to go it's usually an irreversible decline.

Possibly the case . But I thought Elsa / Leonore were reasonable early mid stage roles with Isolde, Elektra, Brunnhilde , Turandot best kept for the late thirties , even early forties. Also presumably like a lot of singers Lise would have been “resting “ a lot over the last couple of 20 months or so.

[Darkbloom]

Possibly the case . But I thought Elsa / Leonore were reasonable early mid stage roles with Isolde, Elektra, Brunnhilde , Turandot best kept for the late thirties , even early forties. Also presumably like a lot of singers Lise would have been “resting “ a lot over the last couple of 20 months or so.

Yes, good point. Maybe it was just an off-night. She's due to sing Chrysothemis at the Met in the New Year so we'll see what sort of vocal shape she's in then as it's a notoriously difficult role.

[ChandlersFord]

There is no singer in the world capable of effectively portraying Tannhauser at this moment.

This opera should be retired from the repertoire until (when/if) a suitable candidate emerges.