PS Un “blogger” non è un oracolo e commette inevitabilmente errori (il minimo possibile..). Ricevo spesso “correzioni” non sempre fondamentali e non sempre precise. Così come io mi sottopongo al giudizio altrui con nome e cognome così chi vorrà avere la bontà di segnalarmi eventuali errori o imprecisioni dovrà farlo unicamente mandando un commento: a ognuno la propria responsabilità. In base alla nuova normativa chi si fosse iscritto e desidera de-iscriversi è sufficiente che mi invii un messaggio e-mail..

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Inevitably director McVicar’s staging has sparked controversy. Probably because he has somehow restored a more traditional staging, where Alberich is a horrible being (someone I have rightly likened him to the Michelin man) fat, rough and with a Gorgon mane. Similarly can be said of the other characters: Fafner and Fasolt are two giants on stilts with a grim mask above them, Wotan, Fricka and Freia seem to have come out of a medieval serial while Loge is a goblin. The gold of the Rhine in this case is represented by a representative of the corps de ballet with a golden helmet that twists to represent the wave motion of the Rhine.  The three daughters of the Rhine escape Alberich in an intertwining of gigantic hands (a reference to the greed that informs the whole of Rheingold) while the Nibelheim is dominated by a huge golden mask that opens and closes to let the characters pass. The Walhalla is schematized by a ladder that reaches towards the sky.  With the exception of some forcing, the directorial structure holds up and certainly does not make you regret some “creative” directions, where Wotan talks on the cell phone etc. The singers move in a rather static way as if they were in a futuristic framework. The constant presence of golden images (the golden niche in which Freia is hidden instead of the usual pile of ingots is very beautiful) clearly underlines the theme of the lust for metal on the part of all the protagonists. Simone Young’s conducting proves the maturity of this conductor in the Wagnerian field. Few uncertainties except in the incipit of the work with an excessively slow pace. But the enhancement of the winds (so important in Wagner) and the constant attention to the nuances of the score make Young an excellent interpreter of the Rheingold. As for the voices, unfortunately we have to record a deterioration of the great Michael Volle (Wotan), especially in the low register where the sound emitted is rather opaque.  On the other hand, Ólafur Sigurdarson’s performance as Alberich was excellent, able to adapt his voice to particular situations: persuasive with the daughters of the Rhine, contemptuous and then whining with Loge and Wotan. From Okka von der Damerau one would have expected something better but the part is rather contained and therefore the judgment is suspended. Olga Bezsmertna is also good as Freia and the same can be said of Christa Mayer as Erda. But they are all short parts and therefore difficult to evaluate.  All the other interpreters were of excellent professionalism. Excellent success with the public.

PS I would kindly ask the readers of this blog to  register  (which implies nothing) which can be easily made  by “clicking” the black square above each post. By so doing they will receive an e-mail message whenever a new post is published.

PS A “blogger” is not an oracle and inevitably makes errors (the minimum possible..). I often receive “corrections” not always fundamental and not always accurate. Just as I submit myself to the judgement of others with the name and surname so those who want to have the goodness to report errors or inaccuracies will have to do so only by sending a comment: everyone has his own responsibility.

Per un elenco aggiornato di tutti i precedenti  posts di questo blog con i corrispondenti links

PS  Vorrei ringraziare tutti coloro che inseriscono commenti  ai posts utilizzando l’opzione “Lascia un commento”  (o “commenti” se ne sono già stati inseriti) prevista nella sezione sinistra (o prima del testo per schermi ridotti come i tablets) dei posts stessi affinchè tutti possano leggerli.  Il dibattito è sempre interessante per tutti…..grazie (è indispensabile lasciare nome e cognome – i commenti anonimi non saranno pubblicati)!!