Tag Archives: Wagner

Dragonslayer: Siegfried battles valiantly in Opera North’s Ring

Wagner: Siegfried *** Opera North, Royal Festival Hall, 1st July 2016 While the Welsh were merrily slaying Belgians in Euro 2016, one dragon was on the receiving end at the Royal Festival Hall. In the third instalment of Opera North’s … Continue reading

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Disobedient daughter, outraged wife: Wotan’s woes mount in Opera North’s Die Walküre

Wagner: Die Walküre **** Opera North, Royal Festival Hall, 29th June 2016 In Anna Russell’s wittily deadpan analysis of Wagner’s Ring cycle, she describes Wotan as “the head god” – pausing for dramatic effect before adding “and he’s a crashing … Continue reading

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Dipping a toe into the Rhine: Wagner therapy from Opera North

Wagner: Das Rheingold **** Opera North, Royal Festival Hall, 28th June 2016 Richard Jones has a lot to answer for. His cartoon-kitsch Ring for The Royal Opera back in 1994-5 scarred me so deeply that I’ve been reluctant to return … Continue reading

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Humour and humanity: McVicar’s Meistersinger touches the heart at Glyndebourne

Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg **** Glyndebourne Festival, 21st May 2016 Eurovision last weekend, Nuremberg’s Got Talent this evening – it’s evidently song contest season. And what finer work to launch Glyndebourne Festival’s season, under the watchful eye of new General … Continue reading

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Downhill from Venusberg: a bland Tannhäuser revived at Covent Garden

Wagner: Tannhäuser *** The Royal Opera, 26th April 2016 At the heart of Tannhäuser is the hero’s struggle between spirituality and sensuality. Tim Albery’s 2010 production, receiving its first revival at Covent Garden, establishes this conflict within a stylish opening … Continue reading

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