Longborough Ring

[verismissimo]

I have tickets. Yippee! Taking four dear friends. So looking forward to it all.

[ARBurton]

Congrats - have you been before?

[verismissimo]

Congrats - have you been before?

Yes, I went, when? - 15 years ago to see part of the stripped down Birmingham Ring - and thought the singing and playing not up to scratch.
In the meantime, all reports now suggest that they are the real thing.
It's said to be the only Ring in Britain this bicentenary year (aside from the Barenboim import). Can that be true?

[ARBurton]

I believe it is. Even Opera North, who are doing an excellent series of concert performances annually, are only doing Siegfried this year.
I was lucky enough to see the 4 parts of the Longborough Ring and confirm standards were/are high - although there were quite a few parts where the subtitling machine appeared to have broken down. That may or may not matter to you.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I believe it is. Even Opera North, who are doing an excellent series of concert performances annually, are only doing Siegfried this year.

Quite so - the ON Siegfried is the latest in their on-going Ring cycle - lack of a suitable venue means that they are unable to mount a full cycle in a single year. It's been magnificent so far (Walkure last year, Rheingold in 2011)!

[amateur51]

Quite so - the ON Siegfried is the latest in their on-going Ring cycle - lack of a suitable venue means that they are unable to mount a full cycle in a single year. It's been magnificent so far (Walkure last year, Rheingold in 2011)!

Hear, hear ferney

I hope that I can get up to Leeds for Siegfried this Summer - or praps I'll try Birmingham this year?

[Cavaradossi]

Quite so - the ON Siegfried is the latest in their on-going Ring cycle - lack of a suitable venue means that they are unable to mount a full cycle in a single year. It's been magnificent so far (Walkure last year, Rheingold in 2011)!

Opera North did mention that when the current Ring finishes in 2014, they hope to reprise it and do the whole Ring Cycle in concert in the 2015/16 season. I hope it comes off.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Opera North did mention that when the current Ring finishes in 2014, they hope to reprise it and do the whole Ring Cycle in concert in the 2015/16 season. I hope it comes off.

Ohhh!!!! So do I, Cavaradossi; so do I!

[ARBurton]

Opera North did mention that when the current Ring finishes in 2014, they hope to reprise it and do the whole Ring Cycle in concert in the 2015/16 season. I hope it comes off.

I do hope so, since I shall have to miss the Birmingham Siegfried as it clashes with the Longborough Gotterdammerung. Embarras de richesse, or something...

[verismissimo]

Anyone been to Longborough yet? Good reviews flowing in currently.
I'm going to the third cycle.

[amateur51]

Ohhh!!!! So do I, Cavaradossi; so do I!

+ 1

Time to start saving

[Mr Pee]

http://www.theartsdesk.com/opera/ring-longborough-festival

[ostuni]

Yes, mrs o & ! went to the first cycle - and I think Stephen Walsh has got it right in that Arts Desk review, though I think I liked the production a bit better than he did. Absolutely stunning singing (and acting) from Rachel Nicholls; Lee Bisset (Sieglinde/Gutrune), Mark LeBrocq (Loge) also outstanding.

[ARBurton]

Let`s not forget some really good conducting- Gotterdammerung Act 1 was amazingly intense.

[verismissimo]

Yes, mrs o & ! went to the first cycle - and I think Stephen Walsh has got it right in that Arts Desk review, though I think I liked the production a bit better than he did. Absolutely stunning singing (and acting) from Rachel Nicholls; Lee Bisset (Sieglinde/Gutrune), Mark LeBrocq (Loge) also outstanding.

Half way through the third and final cycle, I certainly echo ostuni's endorsement of Rachel Nicholls's Brunnhilde, Lee Bisset's Freia and Sieglinde and Mark LeBrocq's Loge. Also Mr Burton's enthusiastic response to Anthony Negus's conducting.

The Siegmund, Andrew Rees, started well, but seemed to tire towards the end of Act 1, and recovered well for Act 2. Jason Howard's Wotan has thus far been good, but not outstanding.

The production is really high on communication of a complex plot, unlike some one has observed. The orchestral pit - under the stage as at Bayreuth - delivers an ideal balance, so that the singers don't need to overstrain.

All in all, a remarkable achievement, putting into the shade the current ROH production and performers.

Onwards to Siegfried and then the Twilight.