The Ring Cycle 2007 has come to an end. Eight emotional days. (Plus my bonus Die Walküre, of course). A couple of weeks ago I read something somewhere, sadly can't remember where, which suggested that attending a Ring Cycle is a voyage of self-discovery. I have to admit that I was sceptical. I thought that I would gain a great deal of enjoyment and learn more about the actual operas. And I have. I don't think it's been a life-changing experience, but I would definitely agree that it's been a voyage of self-discovery.
Over the weekend I shall write reviews of Siegfried and tonight's Gotterdammerung, and I haven't forgotten my Die Walküre, curtain-call photos. Of course, my personal highlight has been Plácido as Siegmund, twice. You would not expect me to say otherwise. And meeting Plácido, a few times! But I will concede that this was John Tomlinson's Ring. I am so happy to have been proved so totally wrong. I had a little on-blog argument about JT's wobble. And yeah, he wobbled. He failed to ring out on the high notes. His is not a beautiful voice.
But OMG what an amazing performance! Utterly stupendous. Dramatically, all round sheer excellence. But that doesn't begin to describe it. You can't do convincing dramatic in opera without having the score in your bloodstream, without knowing the music, interpreting the music. People say "Voice first..." I say horlicks. John Tomlinson proved that it isn't necessarily about bel canto but about living and projecting the role. Monumental. And if he doesn't get the appropriate award (Olivier award??), there is no justice in this world. This evening, he joined the curtain calls, despite not being in Gotterdammerung (he was dressed in a suit) and the house almost without exception rose in a standing ovation of tribute (I spotted maybe six people still sitting in the Amphitheatre).
My personal Ring journey began three years and eight months ago. Since then I have had the rare privilege of attending three different Rings, all within Zone 1 of London Transport. I suspect that this sequence in such a short period is unprecedented in any city and unlikely to be repeated. Lucky me! (And no, I never seldom considered myself part of a three ring circus!). In that, I only missed the Proms Siegfried. I can chalk up 4 Rheingolds, 6 Die Walküres, 3 Siegfrieds and 4 Gotterdammerungs. And now I feel bereft. For the first time in my recent opera-going life, I don't know where my next Ring Opera is coming from - although I've got Parsifal in December! But my life has been enhanced by that experience, and I believe that my self-knowledge has too.
It has been tiring and emotionally draining being at a Ring Cycle. I am rather pleased that nothing else has been going on this week. I was fortunate that most of my work this week has been downloading reports from the accounting system, which is about as dry as it gets, and although requiring concentration doesn't require emotional or intellectual input. Tomorrow - today - is Arsenal vs Manchester United, on Monday my lover has a minor operation. But this week has been Ring Ring Ring.
There have been a few people who have been a big and important part of my life this week - Mandy, Mo and Raffe, who have done the cycle with me, plus of course Anne Marie. Other people I have seen around and repeatedly: a mother and son from Zurich; David and Frances whom I chatted with at Rheingold and then kept seeing in the distance; the familiar-faced smokers out on the terrace; and, of course, the people sat near me - we even had our own little saga: what would Rudolph's excuse for being late be this time - Easy Jet, M25, "I've been in the West End since 2pm...", and Rudolph's delightful colleague who I have chatted with but we never exchanged names. The man with the crutches, the woman with the cushion, the Irish women with their dry 'alternative' commentary. And the favourite of the Upper Amphitheatre, the noisy sweet unwrapper! I've spent more time with these people than I have with my work colleagues and most certainly than I have with my partner! And to the bloggers who have been there, too - especially Mostly Opera, Intermezzo, boulezian and Tales of a Cultural Hedonist (I think I was the only person who blogged ENO's Das Rheingold; opera blogging has come a long way since then). And a special thanks to my mother, who hasn't phoned during this special time ;-)
I don't suppose I will ever forget my first Ring Cycle. I don't know when I shall do it again...I expect something will happen in that great year of 2013 (or will my ambition be a Verdi cycle?)
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