Das Rheingold
Music Drama in Four Scenes
29th September 2023
Royal Opera House, London, United Kingdom
Composer Richard Wagner
Libretto Richard Wagner
Director Barrie Kosky
Orchestra Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor Antonio Pappano
Cast list at the bottom of post.
It all started with lust, then greed, followed by the will to power, then selfishness (and the will to live) led to the breakdown of morals, the death of the free hero (will) and the death of gods in a perpetual cycle. Haven't we seen all these themes elsewhere recently? I have avoided Wagner and operas all my life and fate decided that I should start with Das Rheingold in a new production by Barrie Kosky at the Royal Opera House. Pretty economical production, it seemed, with the entire preliminary evening of the Ring cycle taking place next to a fallen fragment of Yggdrasil, be it representing the Rhine, the heavens or Nibelheim, with the goddess of Earth, Erda, perpetually looking on. After two years of intensively catching up on operas and German Romanticism, I was instinctively (and unnecessarily) looking for an intellectual discourse with the determination to dissect all the symbolisms within 2.5 h but I foolishly forgot that an opera was there, first and foremost, to entertain through drama, which it did. That is not to say this production lacked depth, but it was mostly very direct and straightforward storytelling with some pretty coarse moments on stage. I don't know how this compared to productions from 1970s, but contemporary themes such as environmental conservation took centre stage, and otherwise the set and costumes seemed timeless. Singing was solid throughout. Little gimmicks and clear diction from Alberich, which was refreshing. The hyperactive Loge was a little irritating. The Rhinemaiden trio was potent. Fasolt was impressive. Pappano's orchestral support was great and the interludes were fantastic though it would be greater if the orchestra was more involved and integrated in the dramatic events themselves. Taped anvil-hitting sounds were a bit questionable by ROH standards. I agree with most reviews that it was a 4 out of 5 stars production - very enjoyable but not mind-blowing. I don't know how they are going to keep this minimalism all the way to Götterdämmerung in three years' time. If I am still in London, I will try and catch the rest.
Wotan - Christopher Maltman
Alberich - Christopher Purves
Loge - Sean Panikkar
Fricka - Marina Prudenskaya
Freia - Kiandra Howarth
Voice of Erda - Wiebke Lehmkuhl
Donner - Kostas Smoriginas
Froh - Rodrick Dixon
Mime - Brenton Ryan
Fasolt - Insung Sim
Fafner - Soloman Howard
Woglinde - Katharina Konradi
Wellgunde - Niamh O'Sullivan
Flosshilde - Marvic Monreal
Erda - Frances Campbell
Concert Master - Sergey Levitin
