Video: 'Das Rheingold' at the Met - nytimes.com/video

[stedmantx]

The best Ride of the Valkyries I've yet seen remains Chicago Lyric's production, where separate "riding" Valkyries enter on *trampolines*! The effect was mesmerizing, and to me the best staged realization of the famous ride.

[stedmantx]

I must say that after Rheingold I was a little concerned that the machine would get a little boring over four long evenings. But it was used well in both Walkure and Siegfried. In fact, I think Siegfried fighting through the fire to Brunnhilde in Act 3 was absolutely brilliant. Not quite sure why the fire continued after he'd awakened her. Also, the Fafner dragon remains ridiculous, perhaps the greatest visual challenge for a Ring cycle.

[gudrunann96]

Two ton revolving popsickle sticks - are you having laugh? And have you actually seen the whole of the Ring with this incredible design? Die Walkure was completely stunning... and deeply moving due, in part, to these popsickle sticks...

[sperryism]

Two ton revolving popsickle sticks..... Please. Why can't these supposedly creative types create something of their own to muck up, rather than mucking up a genius like Wagner?

[brieandchardonnay]

I saw the first two operas and loved them! I think this set works brilliantly. It is spectacular when it needs to be, yet not distracting from the singers when they are singing. The acoustic bounce off the stage is great too. I loved it. Congrats to the Met for a wonderful production. Lepage and his design team are brilliant.

[1906DS]

Anyone complaining about this new production needs to stop! They are reaching out to people who have never been to an opera before. I am friends (and live) with many engineering majors who were "forced" to go watch this live in HD at theaters due to the machine aspect. Many of them downplayed it before hand, saying opera was boring, classical music was boring. Well, I went with them, they were the first to jump to their feet at the end, they were ECSTATIC.

[1906DS]

@1906DS (Continued) Nearly every single one of them have been to all the other live broadcast now, and they are all planning on seeing Die Walkure in May. Most of them have also gone to live opera performances as well as symphony concerts in our city as well. How dare you people complain about a new production, and yet you turn around saying opera and the status of classical music is falling! This is what we need now, a production without stuffy costumes, a production that the common person...

[1906DS]

@1906DS (Continued) .... A production that the common person with no musical training would enjoy. Financially, it was a risky move, but it has payed off and it WILL continue to pay off! Get over the fact its not the traditional ring staging from the met you are used to! No production of the ring will EVER encompass everything Wagner was looking for, so why not leave some stuff up to the imagination like this production? Many people are discovering opera now due to this very production.

[angryjalapeno]

I hope Brunnhilde will be good. Her part will make or break Die Walkuere for me.

[PhantomDrums917]

@angryjalapeno Me too. I hear wonderful things about Deborah Voigt and I'm hoping to check it out next season. :)

[rumpwrestler]

MET OPERA TODAY.... it's all smoke and mirrors and gelb!

[overthemoo]

I have been wanting to learn about opera for a while now. Finally found a sort of "beginners guide" article - explaining the basics and the paragraph on Wagner intrigued me because he seemed to be described in a similar way Stephen Sondheim is [as a composer for musical theatre]; challenging to the ear, and while every show may not be a masterpiece, he is certainly among the best if not THE best. I found this show to be the most praised so I started listening to it today. It's wonderful.

[dchiapello]

Musically and vocally brilliant performance. The Machine: a few stunning visual effects - especiallly the stairway to Nibelheim, with Wotan and Loge in "slow motion." But a lot seemed very contrived. I felt bad for Richard Croft having to step backwards up a steep incline so often; he was uncomfortable doing it and who can blame him? And putting Freia in a hammock -- WTF??!!

[simondrift]

@dchiapello

I agree - 'the Machine' is too clever by half and seems to have taken over the production!

Ridiculous entrances - sliding down the slope! Poor Loge walking backwards up the slope (time after time). And tipping Fasolt's body down got a laugh - the curse's 1st victim : not a funny momment.

There doesn't seem to be any aspect of the work brought out. Nothing to encourage one to see more - but let's hope for better in Walkure.

and no space for characters to interact.

[schneecindy]

@dchiapello I like the former traditional production much more!

[jgesselberty]

@schneecindy Have to agree. What we seem to be saying is that the music cannot carry the day on it's own. The production, often not as concieved by the composer, has to be the hook to get people in the seats. How sad.

[PhantomDrums917]

@dchiapello I have to admit, I don't understand that part of the story either, putting Freia in the hammock. Can someone out there give me some insight?

[jgesselberty]

@PhantomDrums917 But, the new productions are supposed to make the opera more accessible. Yeah, Right. Only the stage designer knows and he may not have ever heard the opera until engaged to produce it.

[PhantomDrums917]

@jgesselberty Perhaps something about "worth her weight in gold"?? I see your point but still wondering if it's written in the story or not.

[Malfehzan]

I was surprised, after reading the comments, at how actually minimalist the set was. Too much technology and effects detracting from the show? Except from 'the machine' it was pretty much what I'd expect of a play or an opera, with not-much happening to detract from the show. -- Okay, so of course some people would go "Ooooh!" and "Aaaah!, so that's the wall" or "Haha, the plush toad" but that's them being distracted *by their expectations* and not by the show itself.

[Borzoi86]

What a brilliant idea for The Met to capture our interest with HD performances in a theater near my home! Why didn't Seattle Opera come up with this idea first? Think of the incremental revenue that will flow to New York as a result. Stunningly bright idea!

[StevenLivesay]

the frog has got to go, though

[sailor1955]

I saw in the Cinema in Manchester, U.K. I loved the production and of course with me being a Welshman - I think Bryn Terfel will make an excellent Wotan in years to come.

[stedmantx]

The production is a technological wonder, but I've seen Ring productions with more impressive visual illusions. Will we tire of the undulating planks over the course of four operas? I fear it may prove to be a very expensive technological gimmick, done for the sake of doing it, but not necessarily adding all that much to the story. The "Machine" has become the focus, which is not primarily why we go to the opera. We shall see the other productions are premiered.

[closerange88]

@stedmantx I agree. I watched this yesterday at the AMC 24 in Orlando and overall it was good but I, like you, wonder how this will play out during the next three parts. The Alberich and Donner characters were my favorates. Personally, I like the Mets Otto Schenks staging because I think Wagner would have approved it (granted after 22 years things must change). My favorate Ring of all time, however, is the Barenboim Bayreuth Ring from 1988-1992. Sir John Tomlinson the greatest Wotan.

[toupelitidl]

@stedmantx Quelles étaient les productions que tu as vues avec des illusions visuelles encore plus impressionnantes? Adorant les mises en scène "féériques" du Ring, ça m'intéresse. :-)

[runnerpucci]

was a great performance... just saw it in the theatres

[PlasticAstroBoy]

Robert Lepage is a genius, well done to all the people at Ex Machina!

[potatothorn]

this and other NYT articles inspired me to make Das Rheingold the first opera I listen to on purpose (had heard many by way of my father over the years, opera is ok but not my thing) Had to hear what all the commotion is about with this one. I get it. Spectacular.

[BOOLsheet]

@potatothorn are you sure you get it?

[rumpwrestler]

This looks great!

[marcelogormazvideos]

The best !!!