First in an occasional series of reviews. Well, four to be exact. The final one will occur in 2007. Tonight was the opening night of the first ever Proms Ring Cycle. And there was a palpable buzz around the place. For ease of reference, when I link back over the next three years I have put cast details in the Extended Entry.
I arrived quite early and went up to the circle, thinking, get drink, read programme, etc. A young steward challenged me in quite a confrontational way. "Where are you going?" "The bar" I said in that questioning sardonic way. "It's over there," he said, pointing in the direction I was heading. "I know," I replied. Did I look like a trouble maker?
Halfway through I saw a group of about half a dozen teenagers being shepherded out of the Arena (prom area) by a steward. I was perplexed. They did look a bit young to have come to a concert performance of a Wagner opera without parents. But it didn't appear that they were causing trouble. And, I assume, they must have paid to get in. Strange.
I also saw quite a few adults leave at various stages of the evening. I suppose if you have another engagement to attend it's better to go to half a concert than none. but I can't imagine that so many people had nine o'clock engagements. They didn't look like the type. Quite how they'll cope with Walkürie, Siegfried and Götterdammerung, twice the length of this, a mere prelude, I don't know. And rubbishy comments about the difficulty of Wagner. Rheingold is so accessible, so lyrical, so orchestrally lush, so beautiful. I'm waiting impatiently for my Covent Garden Rheingold tickets .
The performance. I was thoroughly impressed by it. A good ensemble of singers, all of whom projected above the orchestra clearly into the Circle. I had a wonderful time changing my mind about which voice type I like best. Through the course of the evening I had a preference for all the voices on offer. And again I conclude I like the contralto voice the most - Erda is a contralto, and Fricka a dramatic mezzo, but Yvonne Naef is listed as contralto.
Funny that, because I don't think any of my favourite female singers are contraltos, and I think counter-tenor is my least favourite. Or maybe heldentenor is really my favourite, Certainly Loge is the best part in this opera and Kim Begley was excellent. Probably the best perfomer overall was Oleg Bryjak as Alberich. Willard White as Wotan sounded wonderful but sang the role as straight concert, which was a shame. In fact, there wasn't a weakest link, at all.
There is something about this music that just gets to me every time. Especially the Finale to Scene 4 which gave me goosepimples and sent something rushing through my bloodstream, And I finished up by crying - not because of the story or drama but because of the music. That's not really me, you know.
It was interesting to see some period instruments, but I'm not sure, other than a gimmick, what they actually added to the performance. I very much liked Simon Rattle's use of tempi - some bits fair galloped by, but he slowed down the tempo when it was right to do so.
It's a shame that Radio 3 isn't doing it as Listen Again, nor as a repeated one. Whereas, they're doing both for the one I went to last Saturday, which was...disappointing.
I can't wait until January (or December) when I see it at Covent Garden. In the meantime, Siegfried at ENO; and next year will, presumably, include Gotterdammerung at ENO in the early Spring followed by a run* of Walküries - one Spring and three July (From my mouth to God's ears) at Covent Garden, and a Summer one at the Proms.
*I suppose that ought to be a ride, but I'm only counting five, a bit short, I think.
Update: Excellent Observer Review, with which I largely concur...
Willard W. White Wotan
Kim Begley Loge
James Rutherford Donner
Timothy Robinson Froh
Yvonne Naef Fricka
Geraldine McGreevy Freia
Anna Larsson Erda
Oleg Bryjak Alberich
Robin Leggate Mime
Peter Rose Fasolt
Robert Lloyd Fafner
Kate Royal Woglinde
Karen England Wellgunde
Christine Rice Flosshilde
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sir Simon Rattle conductor
