The Linz Ring begins: Das Rheingold

By Brian Angus, 09 May 2015

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Reviewed at Landestheater, Linz on 8 May 2015

Wagner, Das Rheingold

Dennis Russell Davies, Conductor

Uwe Eric Laufenberg, Director

Antje Sternberg, Costume Designer

Gisbert Jäkel, Set Designer

Gerd Grochowski, Wotan

Michael Bedjai, Loge

Karen Robertson, Fricka

Sonja Gornik, Freia

Seho Chang, Donner

Iurie Ciobanu, Froh

Bernadett Fodor, Erda

Bjørn Waag, Alberich

Matthäus Schmidlechner, Mime

Dominik Nekel, Fasolt

Nikolai Galkin, Fafner

Claudia Braun-Tietje, Woglinde

Gotho Griesmeier, Wellgunde

Valentina Kutzarova, Flosshilde

Bruckner Orchester Linz

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Despite its enigmatic details, Bayreuth's Parsifal reaches a cathartic climax.

****1

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German theatre director Uwe Eric Laufenberg freely incorporates some of Stanley Kubrik’s horror story concepts into his Elektra, but in ignoring both Sophocles and Strauss, is a long way from shining.

***11

Bayreuth welcomes a new Parsifal

Matthew Rye, 2nd August

Uwe Eric Laufenberg sets his new staging of Wagner's final opera among the persecuted Christians of the contemporary Middle East – but avoids preaching.

****1

Götterdammerung or The Ring returns to the Rhine

Brian Angus, 17th May

With Götterdämmerung the Linz Ring came to a controversial conclusion with a graphic depiction of Siegfried violently raping a defenceless Brünnhilde, and Hagen entertaining his father Alberich, and his mother.

***11

The Linz Ring: Siegfried or Whither Wotan?

Brian Angus, 14th May

Rewarding performances by Matthäus Schmidlechner as Mime and Lars Cleveman in the title role, plus Elena Nebera as Brünnhilde, made Richard Wagner’s Siegfried at the Landestheater Linz a joy.

***11

Die Walküre or Wotan’s double dilemma

Brian Angus, 10th May

Some beautiful singing from Michael Bedjai as Siegmund and Brit-Tone Müller as Sieglinde set a high standard in this Landestheater Linz production of Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre.

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Brian Angus

Brian is a lover of opera, and has enjoyed attending operas for over forty years. Brian has very catholic tastes; favourite classic composers are Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi, contemporary composers John Adams and Jake Heggie, and a curiosity about Stockhausen’s music. He is always seeking opportunities to expand his appreciation of the world of music and opera.

The Linz Ring begins: Das Rheingold or The Doors to Valhalla