Amazon.com: This is a beautifully conducted and thoughtfully staged performance of the first opera (the prologue) in Wagner's Ring Cycle. As soon as the clouds of mist have dissipated, while the daring, long-held opening chord is still reverberating, the screen clears to show not only the River Rhine and the three maidens (dressed like prostitutes in this production) assigned to guard the gold hidden there. It also shows an enormous dam (not mentioned in Wagner's text). This is the underwater base of a hydroelectric plant, and its presence tells us two things immediately: that this production takes the story out of the vaguely medieval fantasy world in which Wagner had placed it, and that a basic theme of the four-opera cycle would be power. Alberich, the Nibelung, is willing to renounce the love of women, after stealing the gold from the Rhine, to become the ruler of the world. Another basic theme is greed.
The cast is uniformly excellent. The approach of stage director Patrice Chereau carefully balances realism, symbolism, and fantasy. The two giants (Matti Salminen and Fritz Hübner) tower over the gods who are waiting to enter the newly constructed Valhalla; Loge (brilliantly played by Heinz Zednick) appears in a burst of flame; the subterranean lair of the Nibelungs looks something like a prison and something like a mass-production sweatshop. In contrast, the gods look like members of a rather aimless leisure class. Freia, the goddess of youth (Carmen Reppel), whose fate is one of the basic items in the plot, is presented as a lovely but helpless beauty queen. Pierre Boulez conducts this episode. like the entire cycle, with power and precision. --Joe McLellan
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Wagner sans Cliches
I've seen the Met version and EuroArts version, too, and while all three of these DVDs offer a different view, this is the one I actually sit down and watch again and again. It's also the one on my mp3. ... Read More
Rating: - Das Rheingold
A wonderful introduction to the Wagner Operas
filmed at Bayreuther Festspile
unusal sets but beautiful music and production
Rating: - An intriguing vision of Das Rheingold
I feel kind of strange writing this review. I have already reviewed the CD of this version of "Das Rheingold."
However, the DVD adds an additional element--the visual. As noted in my review of the ... Read More
Rating: - A WORK OF ART SO GREAT IT IS IT'S OWN METAPHOR
tThis is the first complete Ring I ever saw, and I remember that it bowled me over. I was completely captivated then, and I remain captivated today. I'm aware of the growing number of handsome productions ... Read More
Rating: - I enjoy the "traditional" Ring more.
I'm no traditionalist. I think standing on ceremony is very boring, but for my money, I enjoy a traditional Ring much more. I just think the mythology is so alluring that a modernized production doesn't seem ... Read More
- Wagner sans Cliches
- I enjoy the "traditional" Ring more.