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.
Genres:
Pierre Boulez as Self - Conductor
Donald McIntyre as Wotan
Martin Egel as Donner
Siegfried Jerusalem as Froh
Heinz Zednik as Loge
Hermann Becht as Alberich
Helmut Pampuch as Mime
Matti Salminen as Fasolt
Ilse Gramatzki as Wellgunde
Fritz Hübner as Fafner
Carmen Reppel as Freia
Marga Schiml as Flosshilde
Hanna Schwarz as Fricka
Norma Sharp as Woglinde
Ortrun Wenkel as Erda
Made by edimario