About the time Wagner was completing Götterdämmerung, it's said that Bendigo was the richest city in the world, thanks to sitting on a pile of gold. How appropriate! These days, this is mainly evident in its gracious architecture both public and domestic, including the splendid theatre, fashioned out of an old gaol. In this culminating chapter of Melbourne Opera’s Ring Cycle in Bendigo, Suzanne Chaundy’s direction makes crystal clear the intricacies of the betrayals and delusions that bring about this Twilight of the Gods, in consort with the excellent singing and acting of the all-Australian cast. The effective set continued to do its good work, particularly in depicting the Gibichung Hall, creating an impression of sumptuousness with minimal effect, mainly golden drapes around the space, with a river vista now sunny, now dark and foreboding.
This time around the orchestra had it together under Anthony Negus, with rousing brass and smooth string playing, and attractive woodwinds. One of the most exciting musical passages in opera, Siegfried’s Funeral March, was exceptionally well-handled. These forces were joined by the Melbourne Opera Chorus, men and women, entailing a lot more work for the former. Clad in black and wielding swords or spears, they sang with rousing discipline, creating a formidable phalanx around Siegfried and Gunther. The women have only about a dozen words to sing all up, but looked good in long jewel-coloured gowns, and acted well, in responding to the apparently demented Brünnhilde with bewilderment and then rejection.
Bradley Daley’s Siegfried continued to impress, with his fine even, ringing tenor, indefatigable energy and convincing acting. Antoinette Halloren returned as Brünnhilde, equally impressive in her personification of the fiery, betrayed wife and ultimately commanding fateful figure who brings about the demise of the gods. Vocally she had power to spare and thrilling high notes, but the vibrato mitigated against the more delicate aspects of the role as written (where were the trills?).