London’s latest Wagner opera has an orchestra of 19

London’s latest Wagner opera has an orchestra of 19

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

November 15, 2022

Not necessarily a sign of the times, but Regents Opera has started a Ring cycle with a pocket orchestra.

First reviews are fairly positive. Not bad, just not quite the real thing.

The biggest compromise of this budget Ring is that Ben Woodward, the company’s artistic director and conductor, has slimmed down Wagner’s vast score for 13 parts and 19 instrumentalists.

Comments

  • Hugh Mather says:

    For interest, I run a home opera club and we are having a Ring cycle from Wednesday to Saturday this week, watching the 1991 Met Levine production with 9 friends on our 65” telly and Quad electrostatics. Sheer unadulterated bliss, from the low E flat at the start of Rheingold at 7.30 pm tomorrow to the final D flat chord of Gotterdamerung at 10.30 on Saturday. Don’t know why more people don’t enjoy home opera evenings – there’s lots to recommend them. I actually prefer them to the ‘real thing’ although I feel slightly guilty about this, particularly re the woes of ENO.

    • Barry says:

      Not everybody has Quad electrostatics …… or a partner who can accept their size and positioning requirements.

      Good for you though. Nothing comes near, IMO.

    • Marcel Mouse says:

      This is no true substitute for the ‘real thing’ and if everyone did it there would be no live performances to record and for you to watch.

      • Barry says:

        “This is no true substitute for the ‘real thing’”

        Not for you to dictate and, in any case, it depends on the quality of the “real thing”.

        I also suspect that you’ve never heard Quad ELS.

    • Warrick Snowball says:

      Well said, we have privately enjoyed those Met recordings for many years. Suspect even Richard would have approved.

  • Gary Freer says:

    well it has to fit inside a car park, as we know ……

  • Euphonium Al says:

    Oy, why bother. Wagner’s music is not conducive to this kind of chamber-ization and miniaturzation.

  • I Mathisen says:

    Superb performance, great voices, the slim down version worked for me. Well done Regents Opera!

  • Robert Holmén says:

    I wonder what Wagner would have done in the leaner post-WWI period when forces had to be slimmed down.

    Aside from attending rallies, of course.

    • Anthony Sayer says:

      As far as I recall, Wagner’s only political involvement was revolutionary. Surely you recognise a fellow lefty?

  • Martin Kimber says:

    Saw a “reduced” Rhinegold” at Grimeborn at the Arcola 3 years ago. It was fabulous, just engage your imagination!

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    The ‘Reader’s Digest’ Wagner!! What’s not to love?

  • Erda says:

    What’s next? The Ring for a ‘comb and paper’ ensemble? The ‘Eroica’ on cylinders? (Oh yes, that’s already been done.)

  • Margaret Beaton says:

    I first heard Fulham opera doing Wagner
    I was living locally & thought that if it was bad I could leave at the interval.
    Surprise! It was brilliant & saw many other productions.
    A friend & member of the Wagner society said that it was the best introduction to Wagner
    Looking forward to tonight’s performance.

  • Fritz Grantler says:

    Let us put Wagner to rest…until singers who can sing the music show up – Now we have screechers , barkers , and Mickey-Mouse voices……

  • Fritz Grantler says:

    I am willing to play my kazoo when they produce another Wagner opera .

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