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REVIEW OF CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY RING--GOTTERDAMMERUNG, OCTOBER 1, 2006 (third cycle) Toronto, Ontario
Act 1 opened with power lines criss crossing the stage. The Norns (Mette Ejsing, Guang Yang and Birgit Beckhern) wore black coats with a hat or scarf covering the head. When their rope broke, some power lines above them broke, complete with electrical sparks.
Brunhilde (Susan Bullock) was a hausfrau in a black slip with a bathrobe; her black tattered evening gown hanging on a power line. Siegfried (Christian Franz) was in a proletarian giant costume from Rhinegold. The fire was now represented by a row of red spotlights.
The Gibichungs were set in modern time. The first humans were in a board room with an oversized desk, large red sofa and panels of spotlights. Gunther(John Fanning) and Gutrune (Joni Henson) were on one side of the desk, with Hagen (Mats Almgren), the visitor, on the other side. Hagen was an imposing, powerful character, physically, dramatically and vocally--tall, bald and handsome in a Brooks Brother suit.
Siegfried was incongruously dressed however welcomed to the Board Room. Director Tim Albery used his able cast to made clear the subtleties of the Blood Brother and other scenes. Power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely. As Hagen was such a striking presence, it was fascinating to watch him wield his power over his weak half-sibs.
In a touching scene, Brunhilde was setting a table for two, having a sip of wine and reading a magazine, happily awaiting Siegfried’s return. Waltraute (Mary Phillips) was welcomed, then banished by Brunhilde. Distancing herself forever from the Walkures, Brunhilde tore her gown to pieces.
Unfortunately the beautiful Rhinegold tarnhelm was replaced with common mail. Siegmund sang at the side of the stage as the disguised Gunther encountered Brunhilde. Gunther was cocky and confident. If he had a mustache he would have twirled it. Reminiscent of Hunding, he ordered Brunhilde to bed for the nightly rape. When her ring doesn’t save her and is taken from her, the acting in scene was horrifying, stunning and left one stunned.
In Act 2, the sleeping Hagen is visited by his father, Alberich (Richard Paul Fink).
Their strong baritone and bass voices were melded beautifully.
A giant board room table covering most of the stage with the requisite rows of red spotlights. One red light above the stage looked like a back stage "EXIT" sign. Wheeled steno chairs were on the sides. The large chorus arrived in grey suits, white shirts and ties. Hearing a strong male chorus after three days of soloists is always striking. Their slim spears were seven feet high, made of stainless steel.
Brunhilde and Gunther joined the other three principals on the top of the table while Grey Suits sat around the table. Brunhilde appeared mortified, humiliated as she held her coat closed. She looked like a slave at an auction. On hearing Siegfried’s denial of her, her feistiness reappeared and she commandingly swore on the spear.
Act 3 opened with the Rhine Daughters dressed like the Norns. (I’ll need more time to process this one.) When they threw off their coats, they were in various forms of undress. They donned blue acrylic Marilyn Monroe wigs, and were very sexy and inviting, in a super-sized bed. Their excessive laughing at Siegfried’s comments was reminiscent of what happens in a Singles Bar nightly. When Siegfried snubbed them, off came the wigs and they returned to their original R1 nightgowns.
It is always hard to watch Siegfried head towards his doom. While Siegfried tells his story, the dead Forest Bird was brought in, killed by the ravens. Hagen is stirred to action when he hears of Uncle Mime’s murder.
The Funeral Music was magnificently played with open curtains, as it deserves to be played. Siegfried’s body was carried in on what appeared to be a king-sized bed. There was no raised arm in this production.
Following her secret visit with the RhineDaughters, Brünnhilde arrives in a state of enlightenment. The Buddha says that enlightenment is progressive disillusionment. Brunnhilde has been suitably disillusioned - by her father, her Walkure sisters, her husband, Waltrude, her Ring, her values. Bullock was mesmerizing as she walked purposefully and emotionless through her final tasks. She tenderly caressed Siegfried’s face; casually but totally dismissed Gutrune and calmly prepared for the inevitable. Comments have been made that Bullock may be giving too much of herself in this role to the detriment of her voice. One hopes this is not true.
While the last few minutes of Gotterdammerung can be staged with great power, often it can appear to me to be a mishmash that leaves me with an unpleasant question of what it was supposed to represent. Director Tim Albery wisely chose to do less, rather than more. The Grey Suits looked at the audience, then towards the back of the stage. Brunhilde carried the action, and did so magnificently. We were as positive as Brunhilde that the Inevitable was happening and the cleansing water and music would bring about a new, glorious world.
All singers in this opera portrayed their roles with excellent acting and singing and received thunderous applause. From my first row perch, I often peered at the orchestra. Throughout this, their third cycle, they appeared fresh and happy. The loudest applause was for Richard Bradshaw and his orchestra. Entire cast and crew were on stage for the final bows. Well done, Canada.
June Slobodian
Valhalla Opera Tours
October 2006
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Toronto Ring Cycle
September 25 to October 2, 2006
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Join us for Canada's FIRST complete Ring Cycle. This is an occasion so monumental that the Canadian Opera Company is building a new Opera House that will open in September 2006 with Wagner's Ring Cycle. |
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Wagner's Ring Cycle
October 5th to 14th, 2006
Los Angeles, California
Kirov Opera Company
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| Be present for the long-awaited American premiere of the Kirov's acclaimed production of Wagner's Ring Cycle. As a special bonus, we will also be attending Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, by the premier Russian Opera Company - the Kirov. |
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Lyric Opera of Chicago Production
Wagner's Ring Cycle |
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| For their 2005 Ring revival, Lyric Opera of Chicago assembled a Valhallan cast - possibly the best Wagner cast assembled in the past 40 years.
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Seattle Opera Production
Wagner's Ring Cycle |
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| In August, 2005, nine Winnipeggers joined with two "Ringheads" from Chicago and one from Florida to see Seattle's famous Ring Cycle by Richard Wagner. The tour was sponsored by Manitoba Opera, Continental Travel and Valhalla Opera Tours. |
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