B & C took the context of Wagner's writing, 19th C Capitalism, and made explicit in costumes and staging what is implicit in the music-drama. Here is a rising bourgeoisie aping the rococo splendour of an Ancien Regime - graciousness removed from messy profit and accumulation. This obliviousness to fate of Old France under the kiss of Mdm Guillotine neatly parallels the blindness of the gods to their fate after Wotan's crookedness. Economics and politics influence the meaning of art.
@andreaandrewmilne This opera has little to do w 19th cent. capitalism except of human greed--there are differ's & they are spelled out in hist.books. Just because there is aglimmer of an idea in an opera doesn't give us the permiss. to exploit it. Other themes-redemption, Gods, paganess--petty splendour of regimes? Beyond me. Metaphors are stretched too far. Lets put Wotan in a 19th cent. mansion because he likes gold? C'mon! We agree to disagree--but I'm closer to the opera's intentions.
Terrible drudge sets/costumes. Lets NOT escape by going to the opera, right?!. Has NOTHING to do with the mythology of the music. Chereau/Boulez are to blame for the techno directors ruining Bayreouth and elsewhere--Schweinhunts!! Richard and Cosima are turning over in their graves. Thielmann what is going on here???? Wait 10 years to see THIS??? I'll stay home!! Ugh!
He has been my favorite Loge since the very early 1980s, and this is an all-around brilliant performance, but it was only this morning I realized that in this production he looks like Riff Raff from Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Seattle opera tops this masterly production? Oh people, please travel more and stop comparing everything to what you've seen in those American opera houses of minor importance.
The whole production is magnificent, Zednik as Loge gives a great performance and a stunning portrait of a mephistophelic and vain master. He puts Wotan under his spell and sings his part with a demonic innocence. Brilliant!
Isn't he the quintessential firestarter? But then again he owes Wotan and company nothing but vengeance. Loge is the last - how did these gods get the better of the giants?
You're right, without Loge the Gods would have died. But how come he's the smartest among them all? Why can't anybody else see the tragic and injustice of what happens? Is vanity so powerful?
It may go far to say that the gods would have died without Loki in the picture, but all through canon, it is made clear that Loki is not one of them, but a useful servant who owes the gods for letting him live among them. On the other foot, Loki is supposed to be an elemental, one of those personifications of some attribute that applies to everyone, gods or men. Did the gods- Wotan himself - become superstitious only because of Loki? What was the nature of the trojan horse that destroys them?
Zednik is brilliant. Have you heard him in comic operetta roles (Paganini, highly recommended)? There is a special charm to this cast--McIntyre is not a great Wotan voice, but he sold me the way James Morris never did. Jerusalem hitting the "Brucke" note in the last scene is my idea of heaven.
Zednik rules! The best Loge and Mime of his generation, and Herod (Salome) and Hauptman (Wozzeck) by the way. Chereau does take the best out of him as and actor. How poorer the action in the Met version (as Mime) :( Well, at least the voice remains. Has anyone here (besides me) read his autobiography?
He IS Riff Raff! (by the way: its a jump to the left) I realy can't take this seriously now. And the whole veil dance is really, REALLY odd. Seattle Opera totally tops this!
Heinz Zednik, Peter Schreier, and Graham Clark are the most excellent choices for the role of Loge. Siegfried Jerusalem and Wolfgang Windgassen aren't as good, but that's just a matter of opinion.
I think that they are two kinds of Loge: Charaktertenor Loge (like Zednik, Clark etc.) and Heldentenor Loge (Windgassen, Jerusalem). Charaktertenors are more, well, characteristic and eccentric, but Heldentenors are in my opinion also nice in this role. Windgassen is especially elegant and eloquent one, he creates an unusual impression of charming and handsome Loge :)
i'm glad to see this-we have wondered for years how they made the giants so huge! does anyone have an answer? maybe it's simple to everyone else. but they did an amazing job. and i'm with you all on zednik-no one else can compare-unfortunately! check out his performance in 'salome'.
I am SO glad you posted this. I've been living on my memory of how much I'd loved Heinz Zednik as Loge & was beginning to wonder if I'd overestimated. NO! He is as absolutely weird, magical and perfect in the role as I had remembered! Many, many thanks!
He is terrific. Just got the CDs of Levine set w/Siegfried Jerusalem as Loge. He is in incredible voice but doesn't bring as much humor to it. I would also like to see him in this role not just hear it.
Zednick is masterly as Loge- a role so potentially and easily over done. His body movement and vocal interpretation are spot on ! thanks for a great posting
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DominiqueGobeil 1 month ago
One of my favorite moments in the Ring !
revelatorization 3 months ago
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dungeonbachelor 7 months ago
Heinz es el mejor.
arturovalderas 10 months ago
It's always funny to read bigoted comments. Don't like modern interpretation? Ignore it and stay in you oh so holy mythological niche.
Thanks, Chereau/Boulez, for producing one of the best Ring ever. *bows*
SkiaAlopex 1 year ago
@SkiaAlopex ...yes, bravo to Chereau/Boulez and all involved... how happy we are to have it filmed, so we can enjoy ever again and again...
khi590 8 months ago
Fortunately, not even Chereau or the other techno director apes can destroy the magnificence of Wagner's music. They try though.
windstorm1000 1 year ago
B & C took the context of Wagner's writing, 19th C Capitalism, and made explicit in costumes and staging what is implicit in the music-drama. Here is a rising bourgeoisie aping the rococo splendour of an Ancien Regime - graciousness removed from messy profit and accumulation. This obliviousness to fate of Old France under the kiss of Mdm Guillotine neatly parallels the blindness of the gods to their fate after Wotan's crookedness. Economics and politics influence the meaning of art.
♥ andrea
andreaandrewmilne 1 year ago
@andreaandrewmilne This opera has little to do w 19th cent. capitalism except of human greed--there are differ's & they are spelled out in hist.books. Just because there is aglimmer of an idea in an opera doesn't give us the permiss. to exploit it. Other themes-redemption, Gods, paganess--petty splendour of regimes? Beyond me. Metaphors are stretched too far. Lets put Wotan in a 19th cent. mansion because he likes gold? C'mon! We agree to disagree--but I'm closer to the opera's intentions.
windstorm1000 1 year ago
Comment removed
windstorm1000 1 year ago
Terrible drudge sets/costumes. Lets NOT escape by going to the opera, right?!. Has NOTHING to do with the mythology of the music. Chereau/Boulez are to blame for the techno directors ruining Bayreouth and elsewhere--Schweinhunts!! Richard and Cosima are turning over in their graves. Thielmann what is going on here???? Wait 10 years to see THIS??? I'll stay home!! Ugh!
windstorm1000 1 year ago
He has been my favorite Loge since the very early 1980s, and this is an all-around brilliant performance, but it was only this morning I realized that in this production he looks like Riff Raff from Rocky Horror Picture Show.
MsCryptoknight 1 year ago
@MsCryptoknight
This "Loge" was indeed inspired by Riff Raff from The Rocky Horror Picture Show - it is mentioned in Zednik's biography.
SkiaAlopex 1 year ago
@SkiaAlopex Oh, for heaven's sake! Thank you for telling me!
MsCryptoknight 1 year ago
Great acting from Loge this guys a prob
Gargantupimp 1 year ago
zednik's brilliant! i preferred him as mime though
claytonperkins14 2 years ago 2
muy buen performance
anselgoya 2 years ago
Comment removed
Schicksalslied 2 years ago
Seattle opera tops this masterly production? Oh people, please travel more and stop comparing everything to what you've seen in those American opera houses of minor importance.
Altonahh10 2 years ago 3
The whole production is magnificent, Zednik as Loge gives a great performance and a stunning portrait of a mephistophelic and vain master. He puts Wotan under his spell and sings his part with a demonic innocence. Brilliant!
Altonahh10 2 years ago 4
Isn't he the quintessential firestarter? But then again he owes Wotan and company nothing but vengeance. Loge is the last - how did these gods get the better of the giants?
VolkgartenBySquirrel 2 years ago
You're right, without Loge the Gods would have died. But how come he's the smartest among them all? Why can't anybody else see the tragic and injustice of what happens? Is vanity so powerful?
Altonahh10 2 years ago
It may go far to say that the gods would have died without Loki in the picture, but all through canon, it is made clear that Loki is not one of them, but a useful servant who owes the gods for letting him live among them. On the other foot, Loki is supposed to be an elemental, one of those personifications of some attribute that applies to everyone, gods or men. Did the gods- Wotan himself - become superstitious only because of Loki? What was the nature of the trojan horse that destroys them?
VolkgartenBySquirrel 2 years ago
5:31
Loge: I can hop on one foot! *hop* *hop* *hop*
Wotan: Out of my way!
iwpoe 3 years ago 30
What a Loge(and Mime)-the vocal highlights of the Boulez/Chereau production.
MargraveofTad 3 years ago 2
Zednik is brilliant. Have you heard him in comic operetta roles (Paganini, highly recommended)? There is a special charm to this cast--McIntyre is not a great Wotan voice, but he sold me the way James Morris never did. Jerusalem hitting the "Brucke" note in the last scene is my idea of heaven.
datb306 3 years ago 3
... umsonst ... ja, diese Darbietung war sicher Umsonst! ...
RheingoldxxL 3 years ago
anyone know how i can see the whole thing?
JimmytheWalrus 3 years ago
Buy the DVD :P
Orangigi 3 years ago 2
just buy the whole DVD set
TheTristan1954 2 years ago 2
Zednik rules! The best Loge and Mime of his generation, and Herod (Salome) and Hauptman (Wozzeck) by the way. Chereau does take the best out of him as and actor. How poorer the action in the Met version (as Mime) :( Well, at least the voice remains. Has anyone here (besides me) read his autobiography?
Corrado7mari 3 years ago 2
He IS Riff Raff! (by the way: its a jump to the left) I realy can't take this seriously now. And the whole veil dance is really, REALLY odd. Seattle Opera totally tops this!
NatashaNabokov 3 years ago
HE REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE RIFF RAFF...
Just "one step to the left"??!!
XPRT10R 3 years ago
Freia thinks: I thought the Giants touching me was bad enough, but Riff Raff is creeping me out.
advancedatheist 3 years ago 3
Heinz Zednik, Peter Schreier, and Graham Clark are the most excellent choices for the role of Loge. Siegfried Jerusalem and Wolfgang Windgassen aren't as good, but that's just a matter of opinion.
100yearoldWhiskey 4 years ago
I think that they are two kinds of Loge: Charaktertenor Loge (like Zednik, Clark etc.) and Heldentenor Loge (Windgassen, Jerusalem). Charaktertenors are more, well, characteristic and eccentric, but Heldentenors are in my opinion also nice in this role. Windgassen is especially elegant and eloquent one, he creates an unusual impression of charming and handsome Loge :)
Manya1759 3 years ago
The way Wagner handles recitative is astounding. I never knew the depth of genius until this, my very late exposure.
musicalidea 4 years ago 4
i'm glad to see this-we have wondered for years how they made the giants so huge! does anyone have an answer? maybe it's simple to everyone else. but they did an amazing job. and i'm with you all on zednik-no one else can compare-unfortunately! check out his performance in 'salome'.
westinna 4 years ago
Will we ever see a better Loge? Not in our lifetimes.
mark0866 4 years ago 2
Or Mime. Words can't describe the nuance of his performances in either role -- he's simply perfect.
Jokanaan 4 years ago 2
How do you rate Gerhard Stolze in either role?
To me he is the quintessential Loge/Mime.
FrancisUrquhart 4 years ago 3
I am SO glad you posted this. I've been living on my memory of how much I'd loved Heinz Zednik as Loge & was beginning to wonder if I'd overestimated. NO! He is as absolutely weird, magical and perfect in the role as I had remembered! Many, many thanks!
CriticalListener 4 years ago 15
@CriticalListener i like zednik in this role too. and i love peter hofmann as siegmund in this production!! :)
HahnStefan 1 year ago
Tommorow in Bamberg, Germany, Rhinegold. I'll see=) But, the clip is is is... Zednick
diekken 4 years ago
Greet Bamberg from me. I grew up down there.
JC
JCmusicalandm0re 4 years ago
beautiful. this is love.
dorotheafayne 4 years ago 2
LOGE FOR PRESIDENT!
piterdevries 5 years ago 5
He is terrific. Just got the CDs of Levine set w/Siegfried Jerusalem as Loge. He is in incredible voice but doesn't bring as much humor to it. I would also like to see him in this role not just hear it.
Walter Ramsey
ramseytheii 5 years ago
Mmmmm, Wagner!
Thanks for posting this - I ran out and bought the DVD last night!
GregorianChant 5 years ago
Does anyone have the scene from this production of Loge and Wotan going down to trap Alberich?
SteinerneReiter 5 years ago
Zednick is masterly as Loge- a role so potentially and easily over done. His body movement and vocal interpretation are spot on ! thanks for a great posting
tenorrman 5 years ago 3
Heinz Zednik rocks. I've never seen such stage presence out of a performer as small as this guy is. He really stands out.
SteinerneReiter 5 years ago 4
Hehe. Loge is my favorite. :3
Peiper 5 years ago 3