Oh, Gad, another stupid Patrice Chereau flavored ideot production. "Its all about able to realize the intellectual realization"--Conlon, I though you had better sense!!! Look at these insane circus costumes--I can't even comment on them. Yes, Maestro Conlon, lets strip the ancient magic out!! I thought we could keep techno thug directors from USA opera. Sadly, they've invaded our shores. "We will be a Wagner house"--you mean other immortal works are going to be infected?! Fire Conlon!
Congratulations to LA Opera on a thrilling and beautiful production of the Ring Cycle. Last night I saw Gotterdammerung which marked the end (and I suppose literally) of Freyer's magical vision. I truly enjoyed all the operas. Bravo!
I couldn't disagree with all of you more. I find it enlightening that you all demean this telling of the ring without seeing it. I will tell you I did see it and it was phenomenal. I have seen a traditional staging of the ring and in the third act of the valkyrie I fell asleep. This ring is a stirring amalgamation of music and art, light and shadow. Exactly as Wagner intended.
I find it VERY disappointing to learn just how much the LA Opera's production of The Ring of the Nibelung intends to drastically diverge from Richard Wagner's original vision for his work.
I think I speak for many when I express how great it would be to see culturally and historically accurate versions of these four operas without having to go to Bayreuth.
If this production was more inline with the mythological roots of Wagner's inspiration, I would travel a long way to experience it.
Perhaps I was being a bit harsh. I'm basically kicking myself for having not attended Otto Schenk's version, before he retired last year! It's just hard to accept, since I didn't really discover Wagner until recently, unlike some of the connoisseurs who don't mind something new. Personally I'd rather wait until another Schenk-like production comes along.
Yet, one is promted to think how amazing a production would be, using Wagner's original concept, but utilizing state of the art staging. I never said it had to be old and stilted, I simply feel that it can still be Wagner, but not have to look like a parody of Wagner. That's where the disconnect is. The story is basically mythological, yet we insist upon making it look like Star Wars.
@paksushaman You only speak for dreary, old fashioned and tedious wagner fans..... Have you ever read any writing of his dealing with MUSIC DRAMA OF THE FUTURE? clearly no!
Frankly, I HAVE SEEN traditional productions. DONE. This looks interesting to me, and I think these guys know what they are doing. I am looking forward to this cycle.
These cartoon productions are done, because those who design them have often never heard the music or seen the music dramas, like that dreadful Patrice Chereau production. They also lack the talent to devise a fresh staging of the original concept without resorting to anime like cliches.
Yes, LA Opera's creative team is spending $32-million designing and building The Ring, knowing nothing about it. And Domingo knows nothing about Opera anyway.
Really? A tremendous amount of effort went into this, and I have several friends who saw it and loved it... and have seen the ring several times.
There is not A SINGLE production of anything that everyone likes. Don't insult the credibility of valid productions just because you don't like them. If you hate it, fine. Enough said.
32 million dollars doesn't make it good. They would be better off doing it on an empty stage than to insult the concept of the composer. And because Domingo was a great singer, has nothing to do with his taste and in this case it is all in his mouth. The problem today is that people don't have the guts to tell these great artists, directors and producers that they as emperors of art, have no clothes.
But it is a little bit too expensive to buy tickets and tehn be forced to close the eyes - but that is the only way to enjoy opera at Germany. Even "Hänsel und Gretel" is ruined and switched into something totally unrecognizable from the composer`s intentions.
Please tell me that footage was a joke? I was planning to purchase a whole Cycle price to see Wagner. I was hoping to see the Norse-Germanic Gods..... not space aliens and plasma swords. Seems my money would be better spent on finding a DVD copy that stays true.
I am with you on this completely. The Ring is not performed routinely and when it is performed, many, while they have listened to recordings, are SEEING it for the first time and they so desperately want to see it as Wagner envisioned it, NOT as some hack director saw it after a cocaine snort.
@jgesselberty Speaking as someone who will be seeing the Ring Cycle for the first time live (but I've seen DVDs), I couldn't care less about seeing it as Wagner envisioned it. As a matter of fact, I hope I DON'T see it as Wagner envisioned it because stagecraft has changed for the better in the last 134 years. I don't want people in tin armor doing park-and-bark singing in front of garishly painted flats under harsh carbon arc lamps. It wouldn't conjure up the mythic; it would just be laughable.
Actually, you describe where most opera is at today! The vast majority of productions that you might go and see (of any opera) have people static and facing the audience delivering arias as if they are the only person on stage with no sets and no drama. It's rare to actually see anything dramatic these days and the skill of acting in an opera is pretty much dead
Here's an idea for you. How about the next time you produce a Ring Cycle, the gods are gods, the Valkyries are Valkyries, and the Gibichungs are Gibichungs? And all the action takes place on, below, or above the Rhine Valley. How about that? How about reading the #@*& libretto? Thanks for posting this! Wagner is, indeed, indestructable.
Oh, Gad, another stupid Patrice Chereau flavored ideot production. "Its all about able to realize the intellectual realization"--Conlon, I though you had better sense!!! Look at these insane circus costumes--I can't even comment on them. Yes, Maestro Conlon, lets strip the ancient magic out!! I thought we could keep techno thug directors from USA opera. Sadly, they've invaded our shores. "We will be a Wagner house"--you mean other immortal works are going to be infected?! Fire Conlon!
windstorm1000 1 year ago
DER RING ORIGINAL - Thanks!!! Wagner WOW!!!!!!
pauloalfredo100 1 year ago
Congratulations to LA Opera on a thrilling and beautiful production of the Ring Cycle. Last night I saw Gotterdammerung which marked the end (and I suppose literally) of Freyer's magical vision. I truly enjoyed all the operas. Bravo!
310Loki310 1 year ago 3
I couldn't disagree with all of you more. I find it enlightening that you all demean this telling of the ring without seeing it. I will tell you I did see it and it was phenomenal. I have seen a traditional staging of the ring and in the third act of the valkyrie I fell asleep. This ring is a stirring amalgamation of music and art, light and shadow. Exactly as Wagner intended.
campy101 1 year ago 2
@campy101 BRAVO!
rumpwrestler 1 year ago
Wagner was a genius of the stage, why kill him in this way?
eliana84 1 year ago
@eliana84 IF Wagner is this great, then no production will kill him. Stop being stupid.
MarcusHolly 1 year ago
I find it VERY disappointing to learn just how much the LA Opera's production of The Ring of the Nibelung intends to drastically diverge from Richard Wagner's original vision for his work.
I think I speak for many when I express how great it would be to see culturally and historically accurate versions of these four operas without having to go to Bayreuth.
If this production was more inline with the mythological roots of Wagner's inspiration, I would travel a long way to experience it.
paksushaman 2 years ago 2
Perhaps I was being a bit harsh. I'm basically kicking myself for having not attended Otto Schenk's version, before he retired last year! It's just hard to accept, since I didn't really discover Wagner until recently, unlike some of the connoisseurs who don't mind something new. Personally I'd rather wait until another Schenk-like production comes along.
paksushaman 2 years ago
Comment removed
Nullifidian 1 year ago
@paksushaman
Yet, one is promted to think how amazing a production would be, using Wagner's original concept, but utilizing state of the art staging. I never said it had to be old and stilted, I simply feel that it can still be Wagner, but not have to look like a parody of Wagner. That's where the disconnect is. The story is basically mythological, yet we insist upon making it look like Star Wars.
jgesselberty 1 year ago 2
@paksushaman You only speak for dreary, old fashioned and tedious wagner fans..... Have you ever read any writing of his dealing with MUSIC DRAMA OF THE FUTURE? clearly no!
rumpwrestler 1 year ago
Frankly, I HAVE SEEN traditional productions. DONE. This looks interesting to me, and I think these guys know what they are doing. I am looking forward to this cycle.
sddesigner 2 years ago
These cartoon productions are done, because those who design them have often never heard the music or seen the music dramas, like that dreadful Patrice Chereau production. They also lack the talent to devise a fresh staging of the original concept without resorting to anime like cliches.
jgesselberty 2 years ago
Yes, LA Opera's creative team is spending $32-million designing and building The Ring, knowing nothing about it. And Domingo knows nothing about Opera anyway.
Really? A tremendous amount of effort went into this, and I have several friends who saw it and loved it... and have seen the ring several times.
There is not A SINGLE production of anything that everyone likes. Don't insult the credibility of valid productions just because you don't like them. If you hate it, fine. Enough said.
sddesigner 2 years ago
32 million dollars doesn't make it good. They would be better off doing it on an empty stage than to insult the concept of the composer. And because Domingo was a great singer, has nothing to do with his taste and in this case it is all in his mouth. The problem today is that people don't have the guts to tell these great artists, directors and producers that they as emperors of art, have no clothes.
jgesselberty 2 years ago
you are right. at Germany we are forced to see these moderized ugly productions. There are no traditional productions left.
schneecindy 2 years ago
Fortunately, with Wagner, you can close your eyes and the entire story is made manifest in the glorious music.
jgesselberty 2 years ago
But it is a little bit too expensive to buy tickets and tehn be forced to close the eyes - but that is the only way to enjoy opera at Germany. Even "Hänsel und Gretel" is ruined and switched into something totally unrecognizable from the composer`s intentions.
schneecindy 2 years ago
Please tell me that footage was a joke? I was planning to purchase a whole Cycle price to see Wagner. I was hoping to see the Norse-Germanic Gods..... not space aliens and plasma swords. Seems my money would be better spent on finding a DVD copy that stays true.
conclave27 2 years ago
I am with you on this completely. The Ring is not performed routinely and when it is performed, many, while they have listened to recordings, are SEEING it for the first time and they so desperately want to see it as Wagner envisioned it, NOT as some hack director saw it after a cocaine snort.
jgesselberty 2 years ago
@jgesselberty Speaking as someone who will be seeing the Ring Cycle for the first time live (but I've seen DVDs), I couldn't care less about seeing it as Wagner envisioned it. As a matter of fact, I hope I DON'T see it as Wagner envisioned it because stagecraft has changed for the better in the last 134 years. I don't want people in tin armor doing park-and-bark singing in front of garishly painted flats under harsh carbon arc lamps. It wouldn't conjure up the mythic; it would just be laughable.
Nullifidian 1 year ago
@Nullifidian
Actually, you describe where most opera is at today! The vast majority of productions that you might go and see (of any opera) have people static and facing the audience delivering arias as if they are the only person on stage with no sets and no drama. It's rare to actually see anything dramatic these days and the skill of acting in an opera is pretty much dead
ramayana1234 1 year ago
Here's an idea for you. How about the next time you produce a Ring Cycle, the gods are gods, the Valkyries are Valkyries, and the Gibichungs are Gibichungs? And all the action takes place on, below, or above the Rhine Valley. How about that? How about reading the #@*& libretto? Thanks for posting this! Wagner is, indeed, indestructable.
flattilre 2 years ago 2
What accent is that?
zenrarity 2 years ago