Royal Opera's Ring Cycles

[David-G]

Interesting - it's usually Act 2 I feel 'happy' to miss, except for the wonderful dialogue between Brunnhilde & Siegmund.

There are so many parts of Act 2 that are incomparable. The only part that you could possibly feel "happy" to miss is Wotan's "narration", which I used to think goes on a bit; but it fulfils an essential role in the dramatic structure, and when it's as magnificently sung as tonight...

Die Walkure is interesting dramatically, because it is a "double" drama. There is the tragedy of Siegmund and Sieglinde; and then there is the separate but linked tragedy of Wotan and Brunnhilde. Each of these would be enough for an opera. It is having the two together as supporting arches of the overall structure that makes Die Walkure such a towering work.

[kernelbogey]

Agree with all the above, but I fear that I'm going to have to give Act 3 a miss - my cold is getting the better of me & I don't think I have the energy required.

I also had to miss Act III - but to my delight it is available on iPlayer! (The link is to Acts I & II.)

Big pat for the sound engineers. Such immediacy, such vivid stereo image.

Yes the sound seemed terrific, so I shall try to listen to Siegfried on Sunday - although my least favourite of the cycle - streamed via iTunes. Thanks to JLW I have discovered this to be higher quality and free from the dropouts which bedevil the BBC HD stream here.

[Pianorak]

I returned later and listened to the last 45 minutes of Act 3. I thought Bullock was magnificent throughout the act and her “War es so schmaehlich” was very moving. Although vocally secure I was wondering if Terfel in his final scene “Leb wohl, du kuehnes, herrliches Kind” did convey the deep emotion, sorrow and weariness demanded. Even so, I thought last night's Walkuere was quite an event - well done ROH and R3!

[Bert Coules]

Can anyone tell me how easy (and likely) it is to pick up a return seat these days? Or a standing place? I'm going to be in London on Sunday and wouldn't mind seeing Siegfried.

Thanks,

Bert

[Belgrove]

Can anyone tell me how easy (and likely) it is to pick up a return seat these days? Or a standing place? I'm going to be in London on Sunday and wouldn't mind seeing Siegfried.

Thanks,

Bert

There are 23 day seats available. The Box Office opens at 11am on Sunday (I think), but a queue will have formed long beforehand.

An impressive performance last night. Pappano took a pretty swift tempo, which became a little too relentless for my taste, but I'm sure it worked well in the theatre. The orchestra sounded superb and I agree that the engineering balance sounded far richer and detailed than other relays from the ROH that I can recall. I rather like Terfel's portrayal and think that he is progressively getting under the skin of Wotan. His and Westbroek's contributions were the principal joys last night.

What an amazing piece of theatre Die Walkure is.

[Flosshilde]

Can anyone tell me how easy (and likely) it is to pick up a return seat these days? Or a standing place? I'm going to be in London on Sunday and wouldn't mind seeing Siegfried.

Thanks,

Bert

Returns are now available on the ROH website. When I checked the schedule of performances, some of the operas were showing one or two seats available.

[kernelbogey]

Returns are now available on the ROH website. When I checked the schedule of performances, some of the operas were showing one or two seats available.

In the £200-250 range, I fear. Perhaps the last cycle may prove a better bet. From the little I saw of Goetterdaemerung - the symbolism of the sets, in particular - I'm not sure that I'm not better off at home just listening in.

I agree about Anthony Pappano's conducting and about Bryn.

[Flosshilde]

I think one might have been below £200 - but perhaps Bert is a bloated plutocrat in secret?

[Bert Coules]

Thanks for the speedy replies. I just checked the Garden site: there are no returns listed but some "may be available later". They're obviously being snapped up almost as soon as they appear.

Flosshilde: bloated possibly, plutocrat sadly not.

Bert

[Flosshilde]

There are so many parts of Act 2 that are incomparable. The only part that you could possibly feel "happy" to miss is Wotan's "narration", which I used to think goes on a bit; but it fulfils an essential role in the dramatic structure, and when it's as magnificently sung as tonight...

Die Walkure is interesting dramatically, because it is a "double" drama. There is the tragedy of Siegmund and Sieglinde; and then there is the separate but linked tragedy of Wotan and Brunnhilde. Each of these would be enough for an opera. It is having the two together as supporting arches of the overall structure that makes Die Walkure such a towering work.

Well, I wouldn't deliberately miss act two, but if circumstances were such that I couldn't listen to it all - listening at home, for example, & having to fit in dinner, & my partner not wanting to listen while we eat - act two would be the one I'd miss out. But I agree, there's too much of central importance to the drama in it to really want to miss it.

[Flosshilde]

Thanks for the speedy replies. I just checked the Garden site: there are no returns listed but some "may be available later". They're obviously being snapped up almost as soon as they appear.

Flosshilde: bloated possibly, plutocrat sadly not.

Bert

Pity you can't set up an email alert.

[underthecountertenor]

Bert: I understand that the only day seats are at the top of the amphitheatre. Serious queuing for Walkure yesterday started at about 6 am. Hope that helps!

[Flosshilde]

How strange - when I replied to Bert's post, his last words weren't visible in his post, but showed up in the quoted message in my reply.


(oops - I meant the last words in his post, not his "last words". I'm sure he'll be with us for many years)

[Flosshilde]

Bert: I understand that the only day seats are at the top of the amphitheatre. Serious queuing for Walkure yesterday started at about 6 am. Hope that helps!

I seem to remember they used to have standing places at the back of the stalls circle - does that no longer happen?

[underthecountertenor]

I seem to remember they used to have standing places at the back of the stalls circle - does that no longer happen?

Apparently not - at least not last night, so I'm told. I well remember getting a day standing place for Gotterdammerung last time round.