Die Walküre

by Richard Wagner

seen at the Royal Festival Hall on 29 June 2016

Opera North's semi-staged semi-concert production of Der Ring des Niblungen is performed in one cycle in London this week. Richard Farnes conducts the Opera North Orchestra throughout the cycle which is staged and lit by Peter Mumford. For the 'first day' of Die Walküre the cast included Michael Weinius as Siegmund, Lee Bissett as Sieglinde, James Creswell as Hunding, Robert Hayward as Wotan, Kelly Cae Hogan as Brünnhilde and Yvonne Howard as Fricka.

Once again, the orchestra, fully visible on the Festival Hall stage, revealed the fabulous richness of Wagner's score under the expert leadership of Richard Farnes. All manner of detail often lost in a less clear acoustic could here be enjoyed, especially in the quieter more intimate moments which develop the central concerns of the story. For example, the string playing accompanying the first moments when Siegmund and Sieglinde regard each other, even before either has any idea who the other is, was delicate and tender. The momentous conversation between Siegmund and the implacable Brünnhilde in Act Two was hushed and grave until Siegmund finally rejected the Valkyrie's call to Valhalla with unexpected but shattering vehemence. At the other end of the dynamic, the great set pieces of the ride of the Valkyries and the magic fire music were delivered with magnificent panache and assurance.

Das Rheingold

by Richard Wagner

seen at the Royal Festival Hall on 28 June 2016

Opera North's semi-staged semi-concert production of Der Ring des Nibelungen is performed in one cycle in London this week. Richard Farnes conducts the Opera North Orchestra throughout the cycle, which is staged and lit by Peter Mumford. For the 'preliminary evening' of Das Rheingold the cast included Michael Druiett as Wotan, Jo Pohlheim as Alberich, Wolfgng Ablinger-Sperrhacke as Loge, and Yvonne Howard as Fricka. 

The orchestra has unusual prominence in this performance, since it dominates the Royal Festival Hall stage, rather than being submerged in the usual operatic pit. This gives the players every opportunity to shine in the evocative and at times overwhelming textures of Wagner's music, and under Richard Farnes's direction they did not disappoint during this opening opera.

Tristan and Isolde

by Richard Wagner

seen at the Coliseum on 22 June 2016

Directed by Daniel Kramer (the new Artistic Director of ENO) and conducted by Edward Gardner (the previous Musical Director), this production features Stuart Skelton as Tristan, Heidi Melton as Isolde, Matthew Rose as King Marke, Craig Colclough as Kurwenal and Karen Cargill as Brangane.

Musically this was a fine production, with excellent orchestral playing supporting a wonderful Tristan and a fine Isolde, who seemed however to lack the stamina to deliver the final Liebestod with assurance. The supporting cast also sang with great warmth, and the diction in Andrew Porter's translation was clear.