Das Rheingold
- Episode aired Jan 24, 1983
- 2h 30m
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Wagner's Ring: The Bayreuth Centennial Production- Part 1(Das Rheingold)
All four operas of Wagner's Ring Cycle make for hugely compelling listening and if done right also to watch as well. My personal favourite is Siegfried(some of the most beautiful music of the cycle is here), but the most accessible is Die Walkure, which is an extremely close second. Das Rheingold is the shortest opera of the four, but still has all the attributes that make the entire Ring cycle so good. I can't say for sure what the visuals and staging throughout the whole production are like as I have only listened to the performances recorded live, but while I read that the 1983 centennial productions made an effort to stay true to Wagner's visual ideas and stage directions I also read that it was met with controversy.
But from a musical point of view I thought it was very good indeed. The cast does have a big weak link though which is Manfred Jung as Loge, strange because on many DVD performances Loge was the one who stole the show. Jung does sound rather strained in the role, and is not ironic enough. Georg Solti's tempos are also a little too slow at times, but most of the time he and the orchestra, who play magnificently, make for an incredibly dramatic and powerful reading of the score. The Rhinemaidens are beautifully blended as well.
The cast are mostly very good, with one cast member who is outstanding. That member was the Alberich of Hermann Becht, who makes in my eyes the most interesting character of Das Rheingold one to be repulsed by and pitied in a vivid and very sonorously sung characterisation, especially in his capture. Siegmund Nimsgern is not one of my favourite Wotans(George London and Friederich Schorr are my top favourites), but apart from a tendency to bark at the top he does give an authoritative and quite noble performance. Doris Soffel matches his nobility as a stylish and firm Fricka, while Anita Soldh is radiant as Freia and Anne Gjevang appropriately warning as Erda. Hans-Jurgen Drewit and Maldwyn Davies are solid as Donner and Froh and Dieter Schweikhardt and particularly Manfred Schenk effectively make the giants Fasolt and Fafner towering.
Overall, a very good live performance on the whole. 8/10 Bethany Cox
But from a musical point of view I thought it was very good indeed. The cast does have a big weak link though which is Manfred Jung as Loge, strange because on many DVD performances Loge was the one who stole the show. Jung does sound rather strained in the role, and is not ironic enough. Georg Solti's tempos are also a little too slow at times, but most of the time he and the orchestra, who play magnificently, make for an incredibly dramatic and powerful reading of the score. The Rhinemaidens are beautifully blended as well.
The cast are mostly very good, with one cast member who is outstanding. That member was the Alberich of Hermann Becht, who makes in my eyes the most interesting character of Das Rheingold one to be repulsed by and pitied in a vivid and very sonorously sung characterisation, especially in his capture. Siegmund Nimsgern is not one of my favourite Wotans(George London and Friederich Schorr are my top favourites), but apart from a tendency to bark at the top he does give an authoritative and quite noble performance. Doris Soffel matches his nobility as a stylish and firm Fricka, while Anita Soldh is radiant as Freia and Anne Gjevang appropriately warning as Erda. Hans-Jurgen Drewit and Maldwyn Davies are solid as Donner and Froh and Dieter Schweikhardt and particularly Manfred Schenk effectively make the giants Fasolt and Fafner towering.
Overall, a very good live performance on the whole. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 28, 2012
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- Runtime2 hours 30 minutes
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