United Kingdom Longborough Pageant Opera 2024 – Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen: Soloists, Longborough Group Refrain (refrain grasp), Longborough Pageant Orchestra / Anthony Negus (conductor), Longborough, Cotswolds, 4, 5. 7 & 9.7.2024. (CP)
Longborough’s gigantic tetralogy ended on Tuesday with a really well-deserved standing ovation – the end result of 5 years of diligent planning overcoming tough pandemic occasions which necessitated a diminished manufacturing of Die Walküre in 2021, so a keenly awaited new manufacturing of Die Walküre joined the established Das Rheingold, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung for 3 full cycles over three weeks to sold-out full homes.
Such an unbelievable endeavor calls for a first-class orchestra, an impressive conductor, exceptionally proficient hand-picked soloists and an administration which delivers an exemplary entrance of home and far of what patrons by no means see. From the welcoming smile on the web site gate, a carpark inside strolling distance of every part, a much-admired view over a few of Cotswold’s best valleys, a exceptional conductor glad to hitch within the spirit of the occasion by sporting a gold lamé waistcoat on the primary night time (nicely the primary a part of the cycle is Das Rheingold!) conducting an orchestra in excellent type. Many of those high quality musicians have grown up with Anthony Negus for the reason that early years of the century. Their particular person performances had been thrilling with stirring offstage horns supporting Siegfried, pinpoint correct cor anglais taking part in in assist of the Woodbird, exceptionally expressive bassoons greeting Siegfried’s awakening of Brünnhilde, a number of of the memorable musical moments of this tetralogy. Within the traditions of Bayreuth, trumpeter Stuart Essenhigh delivered a fanfare from the balcony while patrons grabbed cell phones to seize the event.
Easy, uncomplicated units are a really acceptable function of Longborough’s stagings; none extra so than these of Rhiannon Newman Brown all through this cycle beginning with a semicircle for Das Rheingold, growing right into a collection of steps on either side of the restricted stage to permit the utmost motion of artists, one thing notably useful within the final act of Götterdämmerung with the arrival of the taking pictures social gathering claiming Siegfried has been injured by a wild boar. These disciplined artists comprised Longborough’s Group Refrain and chosen members from the Ring cycle covers roster of whom just one was required to carry out throughout this entire cycle.
Director Amy Lane, blessed with a persistently proficient forged and members of a manufacturing crew who’ve labored wonders on the event of Longborough’s Ring since 2019, delivers a remarkably assured Die Walküre, clearly proud of some minor modifications to her semi-staged route in 2021. Her efforts are given a lift all through the cycle by the lighting plot designed by Charlie Morgan Jones. Dazzling use of floods to provide heat, but typically blinding gentle, he utilises spotlighting each time attainable because the customary methodology to spotlight dramatic moments. Goodness is aware of how advanced all of it was on paper; fairly an achievement and memorable for the crimson glow all through the auditorium because the logs of Siegfried’s funeral pyre burn to ashes on the last bars of Götterdämmerung.
To enhance Rhiannon Newman Brown’s delightfully easy units, Emma Ryott produces gorgeous costumes. Add to this Tim Baxter’s intelligent, non-intrusive video installations, updating most of the American up to date video artist Invoice Viola’s picture expertise and there’s the makings of a most engaging visible spectacle. That is efficient, particularly when the waters of the Rhine and their contents command the eye of delightfully dressed Rhinemaidens. Das Rheingold kinds the Prologue to the trilogy correct. Its prelude is probably probably the most unique of all Wagner preludes. At least 136 consecutive bars are primarily based on pedal-point. Beginning with a single E-flat sounded within the bottommost depths of the orchestra, Anthony Negus manages to regulate the undulating theme because it regularly swells louder and louder because the Rhinemaidens amuse themselves within the waters with Alberich, (Mark Stone), a dwarf and the chief of the Nibelungs. His clumsy advances are unusually accepted till such time as he recognises the significance of claiming the gold which is able to allow him to turn out to be ruler of the world. All three Rhinemaidens Mari Wyn Williams, Rebecca Afonwy-Jones and Katie Stevenson not solely look the half, are able to being naughty, and sing nicely collectively. Their casting is a high quality instance of the cautious recruitment course of evident all through the cycle.
Longborough’s demanding rehearsal plans denied Welsh Nationwide Opera’s Demise in Venice the providers of Mark Le Brocq in Birmingham, within the main position as Gustav von Aschenbach. How good to listen to him at Longborough as Loge, a job which supplies him the chance to make use of his compelling tenor voice and appearing skills while working with Wotan (Paul Carey Jones) to take the gold from Alberich by drive, if mandatory. Carey Jones supplies probably the most commanding of performances the place his abilities match the calls for of the Wotan appropriately. Making a most achieved debut this yr is the younger soprano Eleanor Dennis as Freia held ransom by the giants. Mae Heydorn’s Erda points a stern warning to Wotan to surrender the ring for concern of impending doom to him and all his race. These giants Fasolt (Paul Putnins) and Fafner (Simon Wilding) fall sufferer to the curse of the ring and their wrestle over the Nibelung gold leaves Fasolt useless and Fafner with the ring. In the intervening time of the storm which follows this pointless killing, the heavens at Longborough opened, too. A exceptional coincidence or one thing far more important! Wotan prepares to depart for Valhalla earlier than collapsing; the music providing one in all a number of thrilling crescendo finishes for which Wagner is widely known.
Wagner is without doubt one of the best-known composers in a position to specific the emotional and bodily results of affection in each a refined, but thrilling method. Die Walküre is actually an act of affection between Siegmund and Sieglinde who’re Wotan’s twins. It’s clear a marital collapse has befallen Sieglinde (Emma Bell) within the relationship with husband, Hunding (Julian Shut), earlier than the dishevelled, exhausted Siegmund (Mark Le Brocq) arrives on the rudely furnished hut. They catch one another’s eyes and love develops shortly, solely to be interrupted by the doorway of Hunding in one in all his harder moods. Shut is fearsome in his position, as he might be later as Hagen. Bell is excellent, her voice blooms in a delightfully achieved efficiency of the prolonged love scene which may last as long as an hour.
Fricka, Wotan’s spouse (Madeleine Shaw) holds the ethical excessive floor utilizing this to admonish Wotan for the incestuous behaviour of the twins; she is the decided, unyielding kind who doesn’t settle for ‘no for a solution’, her actually pleasing singing a spotlight of the act. To be able to keep away from battle Wotan invitations Brünnhilde, his favorite daughter, who occupies a particular place among the many spirited octet of Valkyries, to take motion towards Siegmund; Brünnhilde, nevertheless, throws her weight behind Siegmund in his battle with Hunding. Because of this, Brünnhilde is banished from Valhalla, the place the visible results of fireside had been skilfully displayed; the superb musicians responding with an enormously highly effective conclusion.
Brünnhilde decides to take away Sieglinde from the scene of the dispute between Hunding and Siegmund; her transfer to the forest to offer beginning to Siegfried (Bradley Daley) ends together with her unhappy dying with Mime (Adrian Dwyer) taking accountability for elevating the younger man. Dwyer depicts Mime because the reprehensible particular person he’s and divulges the strained relationship he has with Siegfried. Paul Carey Jones, now within the guise because the Wanderer, is a commanding particular person. He’s eager for his grandson to develop as much as be much less brash and infantile – at one level Siegfried lies on his abdomen kicking his ft within the air – as a result of the Wanderer predicts he’ll win the ring from Fafner (Simon Wilding). When left alone in entrance of the Fafner’s cave the orchestra created the Forest Murmurs music, with robust imagery of Das Rheingold and the arrival of a voice in birdsong, the Woodbird (Fflur Wyn) wearing tails with putting eyelashes, probably the most charming few moments throughout which Siegfried learns of a wonderful lady mendacity asleep, surrounded by fireplace. He follows the fowl within the seek for a bride.
Paul Carey Jones survives a check of his stamina as he sings on the top of his powers, a dominant efficiency by a tortured Wanderer, quickly to be ended when Siegfried smashes his spear. The gradual disappearance of the Wanderer from the scene is without doubt one of the putting options of the work; the tragedy arising from his deadly greed. His command of the German language couldn’t be faulted; Bradley Daley’s Australian heritage ensures there’s trace of ‘twang’ in his interpretations. Each artists deserve the very best reward. Our younger, much less brash, hero finds the sleeping Brünnhilde (Lee Bisset) with Anthony Negus main the love duet music, a mild rocking rhythm in the important thing of E main, the important thing related to nature within the cycle. Bisset is fondly remembered at Longborough for her performances as Isolde; on this cycle she acts dramatically however the voice generally is a little uneven at occasions and shrill.
Wagner’s prologue for the start of Götterdämmerung introduces the three Norns, (Mae Heydorn, Harriet Williams and Katie Lowe), daughters of Earth Goddess Erda. Weaving the rope of future and discussing occasions of the world abruptly ceases because the rope turns into snagged. Heydorn’s First Norn is the choose of the three. Conflicts involving Alberich (Mark Stone) and his son, the evil Hagen (Julian Shut), floor. Shut has had a protracted affiliation with Longborough – he sang Commendatore in Don Giovanni in 2006 – and has an immense stage presence, his robust bass voice a high quality casting success. Hagen’s evil plans embrace persuading Gutrune (Laure Meloy) to offer Daley’s Siegfried a spiked drink, in an try to drive marriages between Gutrune with Siegfried and Gunther (Benedict Nelson) with Bisset’s Brünnhilde in his willpower to acquire the ring now held by Brünnhilde who fiercely resists Hagen’s interference. Wotan, whose e book of recommendation has been carefully adopted till now, is now unable to affect occasions; he insists his ravens deliver him information of the destiny of the ring; on this event the Longborough auditorium had a few bats who flew spherical and about as substitutes for these ravens!
By this level, the cycle is almost full with questions lastly receiving solutions. Throughout a hunt Siegfried is killed having been given the antidote to Hagen’s drugged drink. In useless, he tries to grab the ring however lastly the Rhinemaidens retrieve it and in so doing drag him right down to the depths of the river. Valhalla is consumed in flames and this, the grandest instance in all Wagner of redemption via a lady’s heroic love ends however not earlier than the Longborough Pageant Orchestra have performed their hearts out with nice enthusiasm and vitality, the infinite variety of leitmotifs a long-lasting reminiscence of their efforts. Twelve performances inside a three-week interval is a giant ask and there have been nonetheless two extra efficiency of Die Walküre to return!
Clive Peacock
Featured Picture: Lee Bisset as Brünnhilde in Götterdämmerung © Matthew Williams-Ellis
Casts:
Das Rheingold
Alberich – Mark Stone
Wotan – Paul Carey Jones
Loge – Mark Le Brocq
Fricka – Madeleine Shaw
Fafner – Simon Wilding
Fasolt – Pauls Putnins
Erda – Mae Heydorn
Mime – Adrian Dwyer
Freia – Eleanor Dennis
Donner – Freddie Tong
Froh – Charne Rochford
Woglinde – Mari Wyn Williams
Wellgunde – Rebecca Afonwy-Jones
Flosshilde – Katie Stevenson
Nibelungs – Eera Gupta, Eleanor Stephenson
Die Walküre
Siegmund – Mark Le Brocq
Sieglinde – Emma Bell
Wotan – Paul Carey Jones
Fricka – Madeleine Shaw
Brünnhilde – Lee Bisset
Hunding – Julian Shut
Gerhilde – Eleanor Dennis
Ortlinde – Cara McHardy
Waltraute – Rebecca Afonwy-Jones
Schwertleite – Verena Gunz
Helmwige – Katie Lowe
Siegrune – Carolyn Dobbin
Grimgerde – Katie Stevenson
Rossweisse – Rozanna Madylus
Siegfried
Siegfried – Bradley Daley
Mime – Adrian Dwyer
The Wanderer – Paul Carey Jones
Alberich – Mark Stone
Fafner – Simon Wilding
The Woodbird – Fflur Wyn
Erda – Mae Heydorn
Brünnhilde – Lee Bisset
Götterdämmerung
Siegfried – Bradley Daley
Brünnhilde – Lee Bisset
Alberich – Mark Stone
Hagen – Julian Shut
Gunther – Benedict Nelson
Gutrune – Laure Meloy
Waltraute – Clair Barnett-Jones
First Norn – Mae Heydorn
Second Norn – Harriet Williams
Third Norn – Katie Lowe
Woglinde – Mari Wyn Williams
Wellgunde – Rebecca Afonwy-Jones
Flosshilde – Katie Stevenson
Manufacturing:
Director – Amy Lane
Lighting designer – Charlie Morgan Jones
Set and Props designer – Rhiannon Newman Brown
Costume designer – Emma Ryott
Video designer – Tim Baxter
Choreographer – Loreni Randi
Language Coach – Dominik Dengler
Head of Casting – Malcolm Rivers in partnership with The Mastersingers
Creative Advisor – Isabel Murphy
