London’s latest Wagner opera has an orchestra of 19
OrchestrasNot 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.
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.
Not everybody has Quad electrostatics …… or a partner who can accept their size and positioning requirements.
Good for you though. Nothing comes near, IMO.
or a partner who can accept their size and positioning requirements.
Where is Frankie Howerd when you need him?
Oooooh!
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.
“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.
Well said, we have privately enjoyed those Met recordings for many years. Suspect even Richard would have approved.
well it has to fit inside a car park, as we know ……
I’m not sure Hugh Mather’s telly would, though.
Oy, why bother. Wagner’s music is not conducive to this kind of chamber-ization and miniaturzation.
Get in touch for a free ticket on me (arranger and conductor) and see for yourself before judging, please.
Superb performance, great voices, the slim down version worked for me. Well done Regents Opera!
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.
As far as I recall, Wagner’s only political involvement was revolutionary. Surely you recognise a fellow lefty?
Saw a “reduced” Rhinegold” at Grimeborn at the Arcola 3 years ago. It was fabulous, just engage your imagination!
The ‘Reader’s Digest’ Wagner!! What’s not to love?
What’s next? The Ring for a ‘comb and paper’ ensemble? The ‘Eroica’ on cylinders? (Oh yes, that’s already been done.)
At school, I’d start the day by gargling The Ride of The Valkyrie.
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.
Let us put Wagner to rest…until singers who can sing the music show up – Now we have screechers , barkers , and Mickey-Mouse voices……
I am willing to play my kazoo when they produce another Wagner opera .