I know I should have blogged this ages ago, but sometimes real life and football get in the way of blogging. All a bit old news now, but, hey, it's my blog, where I log the web.
I don't know whether the Washington National Opera has ever presented a more thrilling 70 minutes than Act 1, which featured the company's 66-year-old general director, Placido Domingo, as Siegmund and the wonderful German soprano Anja Kampe as Sieglinde in rapturous duet. Their voices -- fresh, lithe and lustrous -- easily filled the hall, but they never sounded strained and there was none of that amped-up shouting that so commonly passes for Wagnerian declamation. A glorious teaming: Exactly what an operatic love duet should be.
Half of the fun at Saturday's opening night of Die Walküre, the cycle's second part, was guessing how Zambello would Americanize the next part of the story. Most of the other half involved being blown away by how good Plácido Domingo, the director of Washington National Opera, who is also starring in the demanding tenor role of Siegmund, sounds at 66 years old.
'Walkure' with American twist simply soars in Washington
Wednesday's performance began with an announcement that Domingo was battling a cold and asked the audience's indulgence. We should all function so solidly when under the weather.
There was little sign of vocal distress. His golden-toned, potently communicative phrases and assured acting revealed Siegmund's proud, impulsive nature. At 66, Domingo could be resting on his vocal laurels. Instead, he keeps adding to them. Amazing.
Francesca Zambello on the concept - An Opera Director's Norse American Itinerary
As Siegmund, star tenor and WNO general director Placido Domingo soars, and is clearly at the peak of his impossibly long and successful career. His characterization of Siegmund as a confused, primal hero is deeply affecting, and his now-classic voice carries effortlessly above the work's considerable orchestral forces.
Photo Journal: American Ring - Washington National Opera's New Walküre
Washington's Wondrous WALKURE is worth it!
Also, Anne Marie provides a narrative in the comments here
By email, Debbie writes:
It FINALLY happened. I got to hear our hero, live, at the Walkure dress rehearsal. I have heard many great singers, however, hearing PD was an unique experience which I shall not forget! His voice was so resonant and present, never loud, never strained. And even when he was not singing out, the sound was most beautiful and full. Our hero is truly a wonder.
Our hero is not young, and there were times when he was obviously saving his energy for the performance,
moving a bit cautiously. But gosh! A man half his age would not have been jumping around with a performance looming within a couple of days. The end of the second act was incredible and the sword fight was a bit scary!WOW!!!!!!!!
Re: Placido's beard...Mark managed the lighting brilliantly so that our Hero did not have to shave for Walkure. I never noticed the beard, of course, I was otherwise occupied :-) .
