Opera North's Die Walküre

[Flosshilde]

Coming up on Wednesday this week - Opera North's Die Walkure live from Leed's Town Hall http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01jxtfd

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... if it's even a fraction as good as last year's Rheingold this will be unmissable!

[Flosshilde]

Yes - I just have to make sure my partner's out for the evening then I can enjoy it!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm sure it will be wonderful musically-speaking.
But an opera that isn't staged isn't really an opera. Has the Ring ever been staged in the north of England?
Good for Radio 3, though.

[Flosshilde]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jun/17/die-walkure-opera-north-review

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sorry, but where Wagner's concerned, I suddenly find myself becoming rather HIPP.
(I know... I find it difficult to believe too. )

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Well; it's not fully staged, but the projections and movement of the characters (not to mention the "costumes") mean that it isn't a "concert" performance, either. So we're spared the twin dangers of settings on a rubbish heap during the Harrod's sale on the one hand (spot the young girl and boy walking across the stage enigmatically during the Prelude) and the "Horned Helmets", knobbly knees and a breastplate that any scrap yard would pay a fortune for on the other. And by placing the voices in front of the orchestra, we get a balance closer to the Bayreuth experience Wagner had in mind than any Opera stage in the UK could offer.

Not to mention the glorious ON orchestra, Farnes' magnificent conducting and the superb acoustic of Leeds Town Hall: I can only repeat, if this is anything like as good as last year's Rheingold, this is going to be something to brag about attending.

[verismissimo]

Has the Ring ever been staged in the north of England?

I think it must have been staged by the Quinlan Opera Company in some or all of Newcastle upon Tyne, Birmingham, Liverpool and Dublin in 1912 - before they toured Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. Believe it was the first staged Ring cycles in all those countries.

Did the Carl Rosa Company do it in the provinces earlier?

[JimD]

I had doubts about a semi-staged performance, but began to think I preferred it. No distracting props, directorial gimmicks or what passes for 'acting' in the opera house (though I feel Siegmund might have been allowed a sword instead of waving an empty hand around). I don't think anyone was disappointed. The orchestra was the true star and I enjoyed having its members in full view across the stage.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jun/17/die-walkure-opera-north-review?newsfeed=true

[jayne lee wilson]

I'm sure it will be wonderful musically-speaking.
But an opera that isn't staged isn't really an opera. Has the Ring ever been staged in the north of England?
Good for Radio 3, though.

Scottish Opera gave the complete Ring Cycle at The Lowry, Salford Quays, in 2003, after several performances in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I feel Siegmund might have been allowed a sword instead of waving an empty hand around

Yes, last year Donner looked as if he really wanted a hammer to swing, even if only a little one!

[amateur51]

In haste now - I attended Saturday's performance & was going to write something but the Guardian review & others here have said it all for me. This performance/production was highly intelligent & and enjoyable and the drama flies by, no longeurs whatsoever

Did anyone mention the Valkyries? - wow - not to be messed with

[Flosshilde]

Scottish Opera gave the complete Ring Cycle at The Lowry, Salford Quays, in 2003, after several performances in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Ah yes - I'd forgotten about that. One of the few times (the only time?) when they have performed in England.

[JimD]

Did anyone mention the Valkyries? - wow - not to be messed with

Indeed: they were a formidable sight arrayed across the front of the stage. Wotan was a brave man...sorry, god.

[RobertLeDiable]

Ah yes - I'd forgotten about that. One of the few times (the only time?) when they have performed in England.

Goodness me, no. Scottish Opera WAS effectively the opera company of Northern England before Opera North appeared on the scene. They toured every season to cities like Newcastle, Liverpool and Leeds. They also used to venture as far south as Oxford, I think. But all that has gone, and the loss of that touring circuit, and the English Arts Council subsidies that (presumably) went with it has to be one of the reasons for their sad decline into the pale shadow of a once great company that they are now.