One Rheingold to rule them all

By Kevin Wells, 19 July 2017

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“the bright, shining ring atop this hoard of riches was the orchestra itself”

Reviewed at Tanglewood, Koussevitzky Music Shed, Lenox on 15 July 2017

Wagner, Das Rheingold

Andris Nelsons, Conductor

Thomas Johannes Mayer, Wotan

Ryan McKinny, Donner

David Butt Philip, Froh

Kim Begley, Loge

Jochen Schmeckenbecher, Alberich

David Cangelosi, Mime

Morris Robinson, Fasolt

Ain Anger, Fafner

Stephanie Blythe, Fricka

Malin Christensson, Freia

Patricia Bardon, Erda

Jacqueline Echols, Woglinde

Catherine Martin, Wellgunde

Renée Tatum, Flosshilde

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Rossini's Cenerentola proves great fun in Adelaide

Sandra Bowdler, 7th May

Neil Armfield's production for State Opera South Australia combines a sparkling night of entertainment with first class musical values.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

Welsh National Opera’s Dutchman docks in Birmingham

Rohan Shotton, 7th May

This bracing performance of The Flying Dutchman is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary musical standards which are at risk in the face of WNO’s subsidy cuts.

****1

Peter Grimes drops anchor again at The Royal Opera

Christopher Woodley, 5th May

Allan Clayton and Sir Bryn Terfel lead a strong cast in a revival of Deborah Warner's dark staging of Britten's signature work at Covent Garden.

****1

The early flowering of opera: a fragrant L’Orfeo at Schwetzingen

Mengguang Huang, 3rd May

Markus Bothe’s Botticelli-inspired production fuses tableau vivant aesthetics with Jörg Halubek’s surgical musical precision, offering a peerless, vivid tribute to the fragrant dawn of opera.

****1

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Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells was bitten by the opera bug at 10, having heard a 1936 recording of Jussi Björling singing “Che gelida manina”. He has never been the same since. A student of voice, performance practice, the history of singing and opera, he holds advanced degrees in Italian and has lived and worked in Italy off and on since the 70s. La Scala became a second home as the Met had been during college daze. Now in his native Boston, he works as translator, tutor, and language coach, haunts Symphony Hall, and would haunt the Opera House had it not been demolished in 1958!

One Rheingold to rule them all: the Boston Symphony and Andris Nelsons at Tanglewood