Germany Bayreuth Festival 2022 – Wagner, Das Rheingold: Soloists, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra / Cornelius Meister (conductor). Recorded (directed by Michael Beyer) on the Bayreuth Festspeilhaus and accessible on STAGE+ till 14.11.2047. (JPr)
Production:
Director – Valentin Schwarz
Designs – Andrea Cozzi
Costumes – Andy Besuch
Lighting – Reinhard Traub
Video – Luis August Krawen
Dramaturgy – Konrad Kuhn
Cast:
Wotan – Egils Silins
Donner – Raimund Nolte
Froh – Attilio Glaser
Loge – Daniel Kirch
Fricka – Christa Mayer
Freia – Elisabeth Teige
Erda – Okka von der Damerau
Alberich – Olafur Sigurdarson
Mime – Arnold Bezuyen
Fasolt – Jens-Erik Aasbø
Fafner – Wilhelm Schwinghammer
Woglinde – Lea-ann Dunbar
Wellgunde – Stephanie Houtzeel
Flosshilde – Katie Stevenson
The Broadway music that begins ‘It’s not the place you begin, it’s the place you end’ displays on how I’ve seen Valentin Schwarz’s new Bayreuth Ring cycle. I’ve seen Götterdämmerung (overview click on right here) and was unable to touch upon it absolutely. Now I’ve received the chance because of STAGE+ to return to the start. In this Das Rheingold I witnessed a megalomaniacal Donald Trump determine within the milieu of Eighties America (presumably due to the Dynasty-style garments) or someday thereafter overlording a dysfunctional household. It strongly brings to thoughts the sordid antics of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell with the potential victims of some youngster (intercourse?) trafficking being a gaggle of pre-pubescent youngsters overseen by three Rhinemaiden ‘nannies’ (who could or could not present different providers for this family).
Having not too long ago reviewed Dmitri Tcherniakov’s new Ring in Berlin the place there was little proven on stage that Wagner would have recognised. Schwarz offers us completely nothing (in the mean time) you would possibly anticipate as a educated Wagnerian, or somebody who has intently learn the libretto. During the Prelude we see video of Wotan and Alberich (presumably) already combating as foetuses. We then see a stage huge swimming pool with the youngsters – if they don’t seem to be simply lounging round or sleeping – becoming a member of the Rhinemaidens in teasing Alberich (in brown leather-based jacket and denims) who’s clearly a dishevelled outcast. Because he clutches himself so usually, I’m wondering if – like Klingsor in Parsifal – one thing has occurred to him (although perhaps chemically on this event).
Significant too, is the truth that the youngsters who find yourself splashing water on Alberich are blonde while the water pistol-wielding boy (in yellow/black baseball cap and yellow T-shirt) he abducts because the Rheingold has black hair. Later we see Mime caring for eight blonde younger ladies crayoning Wagnerian figures with winged helmets. These presumably will develop as much as be the Valkyries, because the younger boy will change into the Hagen I noticed in Götterdämmerung. We first meet Wotan carrying white sportswear understanding with a dumbbell. It is a luxurious mansion with an higher stage together with a toddler’s bed room the place we are able to spot two pictures, undoubtedly Siegmund and Sieglinde. Lower down there may be Fricka in a black woollen outfit and Freia trying like a silent film goddess. Everyone else is dressed appropriately for the time interval I imagine we’re seeing and surrounded by Wotan’s assistant, a butler and maids; there’s a broad sofa, a big bookcase, drinks trolley, show case with (non-moving) snake and a Perspex field containing a pyramid glowing white which Wotan is somewhat linked to (representing Valhalla or Nothung?). A Rubik’s Cube additionally appears to be essential, and Wotan performs with it once in a while, and so will Loge. Erda wears the identical uniform because the Rhinemaidens however there are a number of indications she is Wotan’s mistress and that Fricka is aware of it.
The giants, Fasolt and Fafner, are gangster-types rising from an SUV and when Wotan prevents Donner attacking them it’s not with a spear however a golf membership! Froh appears to be in command of the architects plans and Loge appears the picture of a shady lawyer well-versed in getting his wealthy shopper out of the holes he has dug for himself. Loge is continuously seen on his cell phone (which tells us it actually isn’t the Eighties), he’s making an attempt to thrash out a brand new deal acceptable to the giants. During his narration we see video of Wotan partying with the Rhinemaidens (with recommendations once more of Epstein/Maxwell). The giants agree a brand new contract however go off with Freia till they receives a commission. Showing the impact of the lack of Freia to the household a rotten apple is maybe the very first thing on this manufacturing Wagner would smile at.
Nibelheim is a Kindergarten the place the younger Valkyries in candy-stripe uniforms are being schooled by Mime in his lime inexperienced swimsuit and carrying a toy horse (Grane). High in one of many corners of the room is a CCTV digital camera. The boy within the gold T-shirt is there creating havoc: there will likely be lots of throwing about of meals and brandishing of weapons and mistreatment of Mime (notably by the eight ladies). For the supposed transformation into the dragon the boy has – the now-blindfolded – Alberich’s hoodie on and sits on his shoulder waving a gun. (It’s the hood that is perhaps the Tarnhelm). Alberich is just too simply captured in the long run and brought again with the boy to Wotan’s mansion.
Alberich must make a name to Mime to herald the ‘horde’ which is, dubiously, one of many younger blonde ladies. Guns are pointed at Alberich who rapidly takes one off a cowardly Loge and threatens everybody with it throughout his curse. The woman in pink is consoled by Erda whereas the boy is taken by Fafner who makes use of a knuckleduster to kill his brother. Donner swings a golf membership as a substitute of a hammer and feigns a nasty again when making an attempt to strike an apple. All besides Wotan and Loge are fascinated by the Perspex field, while Loge – who now has the boy’s baseball cap – finds a gun to put on prime of the field Freia appears obsessed by. (The field and gun will reappear in Die Walküre). Erda escapes with the younger woman (Brünnhilde?) as Loge knocks over the drinks trolley earlier than taking part in a Wagner LP on a turntable and Freia is proven placing the gun to her head. Meanwhile, Wotan is dad dancing on the higher stage because the opera ends along with his arms outstretched to the viewers.
Musical values of this Das Rheingold – as heard by loudspeakers – didn’t obtain the ‘lofty heights’ of what I not too long ago heard from Berlin. Cornelius Meister turned concerned on this Ring cycle at a really late stage and his studying dwelt on element and stress; though he appeared to – extra usually than some – gradual issues down in some locations after which quicken the tempo elsewhere. (For me, there was an specific elevate happening and arising from Nibelheim!) Regardless, the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra sounded their impeccable selves for him.
Egils Silins dominated this Rheingold primarily as a result of Schwarz needs him to be such a forceful persona who believes proper is on his facet and he introduced a declamatory method to his Wotan. Olafur Sigurdarson was a set upon, gruff, frighteningly vehement Alberich and splendid for Schwarz’s Konzept. Christa Mayer is a recognized high quality as a haughty Fricka, Elisabeth Teige’s voice as Freia matched her portrayal of a stronger – if clearly extra troubled – character than we often see. Daniel Kirch’s wheeler-dealing Loge was bluffer and gruffer than most, although he created a genuinely disreputable character with quirks and odd habits. Arnold Bezuyen caught the attention because the determined, although complicit, Mime. Wilhelm Schwinghammer was a powerful Fafner, while I’ve heard Fasolt (Jens-Erik Aasbø), Donner (Raimund Nolte) and Froh (Attilio Glaser) carried out higher up to now. The trio of Rhinemaidens (Lea-ann Dunbar, Stephanie Houtzeel and Katie Stevenson) had been melodious, provocative and cruel. It is odd that the most effective singing was within the shortest function, with Okka von der Damerau mightily spectacular as Erda and singing with heat, wealthy timbre and nice authority.
Jim Pritchard