Das Rheingold -- Fafner fights Fasolt, Donner summons bolt

This clip starts with Wotan giving the ring back to the giants and ends just as "Abendlich strahlt der Sonne Auge" starts--go here to see "Abendlich strahlt":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBK8PMkpKI8

James Morris as Wotan
Matti Salminen as Fafner
Jan-Hendrik Rootering as Fasolt
Siegfried Jerusalem as Loge
Christa Ludwig as Fricka
Mark Baker as Froh
Alan Held as Donner

Otto Schenk's fine naturalistic stage production is matched by vintage playing of Met under James Levine, from 1990.

The costumes for the giants are among the best! Matti Salminen reappears in this cycle, even more impressively, as Hagen. Some of that already posted.


Das Rheingold ("The Rhine Gold"), by Richard Wagner, premiered at the National Theatre in Munich on 22 September 1869. Kaspar Bausewein was the original Fafner, and he also created roles of Harald in Die Feen, Veit Pogner in Die Mesitersinger, and Hunding in Die Walkure. Wagner stays pretty close to the source material (here, the Old Norse Volsunga Saga) in depicting Fafner's actions.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Nibelungen
• Rheingold
• Wagner
• Fafner
• Fasolt
• Wotan
• Salminen
• Rootering

[bopri9]

Agreed. You can defend Wagner on many levels, but there is no doubt that he was antysemith. However it is woth to mension that he lived 200 years ago, in times when people perceived world in a very different way. Imagine what Vivaldi would think about Muslim's. We should get used to the fact that racism was a part of our history. Looking at our culture through modern values is completely irrelevant.

[heildirgunther]

What a shame! Hitler loved wagner... and, if Hitler loved chocolate ice cream it means the chocolae ice cream is evil? come on guys! because of people like headbanging69 or truefakeness the ignorance in the world grows

[JohnnyWishbone85]

@bopri9

What? Good sense and intelligent commentary on YouTube? Preposterous! You, sir, R TEH GAY FAGG0T!

[PessyminbluE]

Che tenerezza Fasolt a 0:45 ...

[LeRinkRat]

@triton2008 YouTube poster "luanurbec" did 

[LeRinkRat]

@nothosaur both the Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen - Complete Ring Cycle (Levine, Metropolitan Opera) (1990) complete DVD set AND the studio recording CD box set of all four Operas are available @ Amazon.com. they also have download available for the studio recordings.

[nothosaur]

@LeRinkRat How can I buy the 1990 PBS broadcast of the Wagner Ring Cycle that you are referring to? Is it on Amazon?

[LeRinkRat]

this 1990 PBS broadcast, which was later translated to both tape and DVD, is what hooked me on Wagner 30 three decades ago. James Morris OWNS the roll of Wotan. there are very few opera singers that one can recognize just from their voice. Luciano Pavarotti is unique among tenors and James Morris along with Ekkehard Wlaschiha, who sings Alberich in this ring, are unique among bass-baritones and baritones.

thank you for posting, TheGreatPerformers.

[Jaydoggy531]

@glenfagelfors

This was the first time I listened to the Ring Cycle, and I was (and am still) quite new to opera. I liked this production a lot. I find myself confused by the directors who say they're trying to bring in a new audience. I AM a new audience, am only 24, and really I find myself pushed away by them more often.