Götterdämmerung, act three

Der Ring des Nibelungen, a famous production from Bayreuth 1976, recorded 1980. Gwyneth Jones as Brünnhilde, Fritz Hübner as Hagen. Conducted by Pierre Boulez, directed by Patrice Chéreau. Finale of Wagner's tetralogy.

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[spinto12]

There is no wobble in her voice in this performance. I'm not saying that there aren't times where one is present but it seems that some people suffer from the power of suggestion: Someone mentioned/suggested a wobble in Jones' voice and now it's SUPPOSED to automatically be there everytime she performs.

[CinnAlla]

I watched this production of The Ring from beginning to end 30-odd years ago, and was totally convinced by it.

[iskenderuna .]

Whores are women who take money in return for sexual favours. What suggests that Chereau's Rhine maidens did that??

[IamDayoldHate1]

Creepiest performance of this Opera? When Albert Speer managed to organize a performance in the last weeks of Nazi Germany.

[jrosings1]

Check out the videos of Jones singing the Immolation at the Last Night of the Proms. Filmed around 1990 and absolutely stunning. I love this woman.

[lljdma06]

I've listened to a lot of Immolation scenes and despite her wobble, I keep returning to Jones & this Boulez/Chereau production. She's the ONLY one I've heard so far who cuts over the orchestra in ALL the parts of her voice. I think the flaws actually make for an intense performance. IMO, she has just the right combination of "ping" and warmth, & she moves! Many of the current Brunnhildes, while possessing lovely voices, are too "fluffy" sounding. She IS Wotan's daughter, after all..

[Peter Baum]

It's so difficult to find someone to do this role complete justice. Nilsson was probably as close to perfection as we've had, but I've only heard her on the Solti recordings so who knows how effective an actress she was as Brunnhilde. Behrens was such a brave performer (I loved her Met "Elektra" although that part to stretched her to the max.) Voigt (fantastic in that same "Elektra") doesn't have the powerful voice she once had, which sadly diminishes her Brunnhilde. But you have to love her

[angryjalapeno]

Les Miserables, Moulin Rouge, Zola's Nana (title character is a prostitute), de Sade's Juliette (title character is a prostitute), de Maupassant's Boule de Suif (title character is prostitute), even Proust had prostitutes in his books.  Clearly Chéreau could not let this opportunity get away; he must include prostitutes.

[PrevitaliA]

I totally agree with you. Behrens should have never touched Wagner (I haven't heard Voigt live). I even would say that Jones had much richer voice, specially in her medium and low registers, than Nilsson. I'll have to listen Anne Evans

[PrevitaliA]

That's a curious idea of French towns (I wonder if you've seen one like that in France) as well as of things French supposedly love...

[Peter Baum]

And that wobble is a shame, because Jones has the real voice for Brunnhilde as opposed to Behrens and Voigt (both admirable performances but too light-voiced.) Anne Evans for Barenboim/Kupfer might be the best alternative.