A pale Rheingold begins Teatro Real's revival of Carsen’s Ring

By Fernando Remiro, 22 January 2019

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“Wotan’s predatory dreams are made of concrete, as naked as his own selfishness”

Reviewed at Teatro Real: Sala Principal, Madrid on 19 January 2019

Wagner, Das Rheingold

Teatro Real

Pablo Heras-Casado, Conductor

Robert Carsen, Director

Patrick Kinmonth, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Greer Grimsley, Wotan

Raimund Holte, Donner

David Butt Philip, Froh

Joseph Kaiser, Loge

Samuel Youn, Alberich

Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, Mime

Albert Pesendorfer, Fasolt

Alexander Tsymbalyuk, Fafner

Dame Sarah Connolly, Fricka

Sophie Bevan, Freia

Ronnita Miller, Erda

Isabella Gaudí, Woglinde

Maria Miró, Wellgunde

Claudia Huckle, Flosshilde

Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real

Manfred Voss, Lighting Designer

Deborah Warner attains her theatrical dream at the Teatro Real

Juan José Freijo, 12th March

Warner once again displays her unquestionable talent onstage and her affinity with Benjamin Britten, although, on this occasion, the musical aspect are not equally satisfactory.

***11

Illuminating history-makers: Nixon in China lands in Madrid

David Karlin, 17th April

John Adams’ opera about Richard Nixon’s historic meeting with Mao Tse-Tung is performed with all round excellence, with a real find on the podium in the shape of Olivia Lee-Gunderman.

****1

The martyrs and the oppressed: Peter Grimes at Teatro Real Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 19th April

The new production of Peter Grimes stands out as the strongest item in Teatro Real's season, with magnificent staging by Deborah Warner and superb musical direction by Ivor Bolton, with outstanding vocal and dramatic performances.

*****

Reality as a staging concept: La traviata at Teatro Real, Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 22nd July

In this historic reopening, Lisette Oropesa offers a magnificent performance, dramatically overwhelming and vocally very unique.

****1

La Veronal heads Into the Little Hill in Madrid

John Marten Barnard, 15th February

The Teatros del Canal host the Benjamin–Crimp partnership’s thrillingly dark, lyric retelling of Robert Browning’s famous 1842 poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin by La Veronal dance company.

*****

A disappointing new Falstaff from Laurent Pelly at the Teatro Real

Fernando Remiro, 25th April

Comedy fails to spark in Laurent Pelly's new production of Falstaff at the Teatro Real.

**111

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Fernando Remiro

Fernando studied history and political science. He is passionate about opera and lied, a devoted fan of Benjamin Britten, and a lover of challenging stage productions. He wrote opera reviews for the Spanish musical magazine Ritmo and tweets about opera at @operatweets.