rings and things and fine array
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Nothing tantalizes the diehard opera collector like a new version of Wagner’s mighty tetralogy. So La Cieca is pleased to offer for your consideration “The Copenhagen Ring
I saw this Ring in Copenhagen and apart from a few silly ideas it was stimulating and brilliantly acted and considering almost the entire ensemble – apart from James Johnston’s Wotan and Eva Johannsen’s Sieglinde – were member of the Danish Royal Opera – an amazing achievement that almost no other house could achieve today. Most of the sets were breathtaking in the theatre, and the acting and personenregie were first class. I urge anyone to give this Ring a try on DVD.
The music at that particular moment of Wotan’s farewell screams for an unsubtle gesture. I absolutely love it. Baby as happy ending, however, is the one dramatic convention for which I’d support the death penalty.
Interested to hear talk of Gorchakova after all these years. She gave that batshit interview about how Gergiev was out to get her that was made a little suspect by the fact her voice was falling apart anyway…this was from maybe a few years after the album of warhorses wherein the climactic high note on every single one was out of tune. On a good day, though, she was really something.
I’m also delighted to see Mrs JC paying us a fleeting visit- do stay longer MrsJC.
Also have to say I can understand why Gorchakova is an angry woman- in fact I’ve noticed most of the Russian Divas AND the men, all seem to have axes to grind. I know a lot of it emanates from “the system” in Russia – reportedly what it was- and what it is now.
It is noticeable that it seems to have created at best, a lot of personal attitudes that are pretty bad- just look at Borodina.
It would be interesting to know why Gorchakova was dumped half way through a performance though- and as far as what she said about Gheorghui – it was really pretty tame compared to what we see on here.
Some thoughts; if the wals have wings do they still sing about their horses they don’t need. Maybe that stuff in the bottle is apple cider–I guess they still need their daily apples. Or maybe Brangane dropped a whammy in the bottle. That big round light at the end made me think of the big egg on the poster from Alien. And maybe the nudie guy in the tank is Elsa’s brother.
Hasn’t anybody noticed the ass on that guy in the tank? Is he for REAL?
Wenarto….you can ALWAYS post it on XTube instead…
Yes Pavel, I noticed…I should be in the tank with him. Then you’d REALLY see a show…
Jatm-
I think they could easily import this in a year where the whole ring is not being done at the MET. He needs to make NYCO an international house immediately and this ring would give it the City Opera edginess that has been completely lost during Paul Kellogg’s reign. And why not take someone young to conduct the ring like Dudamel, I am fairly certain it would be his first. It would create an amazing amount of press and heat around city opera and that is a good thing.
PS I wpuldn’t ,mind Michael Phelps, the ultra Hot olympic swimmer, being FIshboy in this ring production.
Michael Phelps? hehe…talk about “penetrating wagner’s ring”…