A review of the Opera Die Walkure (from the Vulgate)

by C. Gatsby

Wagner operas are like Lought Derg or hill walks: at the beginning you think, 'What am I doing? Me, here, now?' Half an hour later you remember; and at the end you know you'll do the whole thing again. Not too soon; but some time.

I first saw/heard/did the Ring Cycle when I was young and curious about everything and Sir Alexander Gibson had just set up Scottish Opera. Last year I greatly enjoyed Das Rheingold; and last night I greatly enjoyed Die Walkure. But: a few apercus, perforce disjointed - it's hard to write in the dark on Post-Its with a wee bookie pen.

Act 1. A love story. Set a bit odd: all poles and doors and a big sword, and Sieglinde in a catalogue angora cardie and Siegmund in Oxfam gear (though he was a bit of all right in that Special Unit kind of way.) They made beautiful music together - and they had lovely voices.

A short interval after this. I applied some liniment.

Act 2 very very busy. Long bout of Wotan and Fricka bickering. Wotan a dead ringer for mein charming host in Babbity Bowsters. Frick in cream outfit with pashmina. They were in a sort of hotel room, with a totty drinks shelf and ensuite where Wotan washed his hands. Gorgeous singing. Then, a shock - Brunnhilde. Looked as if had just left Uni's Kwondo for Women Club. Angelic voice, if a bit less - what? dense? - than Brunnhildes we've heard on record. Then Siegmund was killed; I was nearly greeting.

Long interval now. Bar empty! Everyone sitting on stairs with wee posh 'picnic suppahs.' Moved about to prevent Deep Veined whatsit' heard some chat. Elederly gent, 'Is Wotan legit?' Who ARE these guys? That's no how they talk doon Waldorf. 'I wouldn't like to be married to Fricka. ' From where I stand, you are, liebchen, you are. More refreshment and fortification, then some ice cream. Now feeling very little pain.

Act 3 - the Valkyries! Eight of them, some BIG ladies, dripping with attitude and metallic chic, swaggering about swigging from green bottles out of a mini-fridge. Eh? They sang, quite marvellously, about their deeds and feats; and I'd love to have seen the 1876 production when apparently they'd a big black horse on the stage.

Next bit FAR too long: another of Wotan's tedious self-justifying soliloquies. That could've been chopped, along with half his lines in Act 1. Opera storylines are daft anyway, so why not? Finale again very moving: Wotan leaves his daughter imprisoned in a circle of fire.

So - the set designs and costumes were disconcerting: the only 'classic' items were the Valkyries' M+S white blouses; and some of the props I thought plain silly. But - the overwhelming image you leave with is of a terrifying steep motorway, shooting into the unknown, with tall broken towers around it, twisted metal rods sticking out of their jagged tops; and of Wotan singing 'For wherever forces rise boldly, There I openly encourage warfare.'

Enough of that: heavy stuff's in the programme, where I read that Wagner wrote the Ring backwards. Aaaaah ... that explains ... little Richard hatte den Plot gelost!

Anyway, we've left poor Brunnhilde lying on a creaky week papier-mache mountain, surrounded by a big gas ring (on at Mark 3); so hurry up, Siegfried - especially if you take after your Da, and sing like him too - we're ALL here, waiting.

C. Gatsby

Tell a friend about this page

I thought it was a very funny synopsis. Had at- tended the Seattle Ring in August, cycle II, and us Wagnerites need to get a laugh! Or a life! Siegfried Definitely contains a lot of dry patches even more the other three nights combined-too bad Wagner didn't have an editor!!!!!! He needed to tweek it down a bit, nothing says ya gotta yap for five hours!!! Again, a very funny review. Had a good laugh out of it.
--Nancy P. Davies ( daviesnancy at hotmail dot com ) from U.S.A. on 4.12.2001; 22:28:52 Uhr

I read your review and I'm horrorized with it. It's simply awful, You have a very poor concept of Wagner and the deep message that his drammas contain. You'd better comment Madonna and Michael Jackson's shows next time.
--Paul Steinbeck ( pstein at uol dot com dot co ) from Colombia on 9.11.2001; 22:07:00 Uhr

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