First word on Francesca Zambello‘s “American iconography” production of Der Ring des Nibelungen sounds moderately dire. Our top secret mole The Concerned Wagnerian reports from somewhere in the vicinity of the Washington National Opera:

“Alberich is panning for gold in a western getup. The Rhinemaidens reveal their gold as a large quilt. Yes, a quilt. As in ‘this gold is nice; we should quilt with it.’ They frolic with the forbidden quilt until Alberich snatches it away. Wotan is discovered — no, not as Horace Tabor — but rather as Jay Gatsby, reclining on lawn furniture. Donner sports “tennis, anyone” attire and an architect’s T square in lieu of hammer. Froh in white riding jodphurs. Fafner and Fasolt have been nicknamed by the cast “The Super Mario Brothers,” because that’s just what they look like, denim overalls and oversized blue engineer caps. Oh, and they are lowered onto the stage on a giant steel girder. Definitely the biggest laugh in the show. Nibelheim is actually quite well done until Alberich turns into remote controlled toy car covered in a rubber toad outfit.”

TCW promises a report on the audience’s reaction after the dress rehearsal on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, on our shores, Madame Vera Galupe-Borszkh spins her favorite stacks of wax on Unnatural Acts of Opera.