“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment features “Tolkien.” Tolkien’s “Lord {…}
Dramatic soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer knows her way around Wagner’s “Ring.” The California native has sung multiple roles in the composer’s epic cycle at some of the most prestigious houses. This spring she’s back at the Met singing in three out of the four operas, performing Freia in “Das Rheingold,” Ortlinde in “Die Walküre,” and Third Norn in “Götterdämerung.” The {…}
Wagner’s “Der Ring Des Nibelungen” made its long-awaited comeback to the Met Opera on Saturday afternoon with a performance of “Das Rheingold.” The Wagner epic is always a major draw for audiences and the house was packed for the matinee performance which marked the return of the famed “machine” production by Robert LePage as well as a number of debuts {…}
The Longborough Festival Opera has announced its 2019 slate. Everything kicks off with “Das Rheingold,” which will kick off the company’s four-year plan to mount the Ring. The production will feature Mark Stone, Darren Jeffery, Mark Le Brocq, Madeleine Shaw, and Simon Wilding among others. Amy Lane directors and Anthony Negus conducts. Performance Dates: June 5-11, 2019 Wagner’s epic will {…}
The Longborough Festival Opera is set to launch a new Ring Cycle in 2019. The cycle will kick off in June 2019 with a new production of “Das Rheingold.” Per a press release, this first installment will feature showcases on June 5, 7, 9, and 11. In June 2020, Wagner’s “Die Walküre” will get a new staging, followed by “Siegfried” {…}
We had the unexpected pleasure of attending the last Cycle of the Keith Warner production of “Der Ring des Nibelungen” at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (September 26 through November 2, 2018). Warner’s production, like most modern productions, had several insightful touches and many silly ones. The performance begins and ends with the Rhine Maidens in a “natural state” {…}
Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” will take over Vienna State Opera’s live stream service this week with two major performances. The cycle begins with “Das Rheingold” on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 7 p.m. local time. The performance is slated to run until around 9:30 p.m. That’s around 2 p.m. EDT and 11 a.m. PST for the start time. The cast for {…}
Anytime the Metropolitan Opera puts on a new production of Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen,” you better believe that it is a major event. The tetralogy will reappear in 2018-19 for the first time since the 2013 season, and as might be expected, there aren’t very many opportunities to check it out. So here is a rundown of the essential {…}
Das Rheingold is the first of Richard Wagner’s famous ‘Ring’ cycle and had its world premiere on Sept. 22, 1869. The libretto for the work was interestingly composed after the other three works in the cycle, though it was the first to be composed and performance of the tetralogy. “Das Rheingold” reveals the origin of the ring forged from the {…}
It’s been a summer of debuts for Russell Thomas and he is about to make yet another one on Thursday, July 27, when he takes on the title role in “La Clemenza di Tito” at the Salzburg Festival. This will be Thomas’ first time singing at the festival in a role that he has previously conquered. The American tenor took {…}
There will be a new Fricka in town when the Boston Symphony Orchestra takes on Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” at Tanglewood. Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe is stepping in to replace Dame Sarah Connolly for the July 15, 2017, performance which will be conducted by Andris Nelsons. According to reports, Connolly is withdrawing due to illness. The performance is slated to be a major highlight {…}