fri 06/12/2024

Das Rheingold, Opera North | reviews, news & interviews

Das Rheingold, Opera North

Das Rheingold, Opera North

The orchestra enjoys itself on stage in a thrilling concert production

'Like a small child being dragged furiously to bed': Michael Druiett as Wotan, Nicholas Folwell as Alberich and Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke as Loge in Opera North's 'Das Rheingold'Clive Barda

After years of planning, Opera North's Ring cycle gets under way. The orchestra pit at the Leeds Grand Theatre is too small for Wagner's oversized orchestra. So this is a concert staging, to be repeated in the coming months at The Sage Gateshead, Birmingham's Symphony Hall and The Lowry in Salford. It's really a blessing, meaning that production staff don't have to grapple with Wagner's extravagant stage demands in order to make the impossible appear tangible. What Opera North have done is engage lighting designer Peter Mumford to create a concert staging.

After years of planning, Opera North's Ring cycle gets under way. The orchestra pit at the Leeds Grand Theatre is too small for Wagner's oversized orchestra. So this is a concert staging, to be repeated in the coming months at The Sage Gateshead, Birmingham's Symphony Hall and The Lowry in Salford. It's really a blessing, meaning that production staff don't have to grapple with Wagner's extravagant stage demands in order to make the impossible appear tangible. What Opera North have done is engage lighting designer Peter Mumford to create a concert staging.

Richard Farnes is not afraid to let his augmented forces let rip and fill the hall with sound

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Comments

My first experience of Wagner - and what a night!! Totally agree with Graham Rickson's review, can't wait for the next installment. Thanks for explaining the 'screams'.

Never liked Wagner til I saw this production, wholeheartedly agree with everything that's said here. Bravo!

"there were several moments where you wanted the capacity audience to loosen up a little and smile as much as they jumped at the thunderclap before the entry into Valhalla." You must've been in the expensive seats (the ones with the mobile phones left on!): no lack of chuckles in the cheap stalls. Otherwise an excellent review of a SUPERB production: thanks and congratulations to everyone involved!

Thanks NWC - I was near the front of the downstairs stalls and hearing others giggle would have made me feel less inhibited about doing the same, in what was, in essence, a story about a posh family having problems with the builders.

It was my first time at a Wagner opera (at 54!) and I was hooked, all this week it has been the only music that mattered. All the performances were thrilling and beautifully paced, and the applause at the end fully justified. I'm looking forward to the next three years.

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