Die Walküre: Winterstürme - Du bist der Lenz

Der Ring des Nibelungen, a famous production from Bayreuth 1976, recorded 1980. Jeannine Altmeyer as Sieglinde, Peter Hofmann as Siegmund. Conducted by Pierre Boulez, directed by Patrice Chéreau.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Altmeyer
• Hofmann
• Der
• Ring
• des
• Nibelungen
• Wagner
• Chéreau
• Boulez
• Bayreuth
• opera

[bluelightwarning]

Peter Hofmann had such a compelling quality of voice - uncomparable to any of his contempories. The strength and power of his voice was incredible. And a man you didn´t have to disguise to pass as German hero... he also looked the part.

[SinoSene]

Well, I ask the question as to why you find it so difficult to look past her ethnicity? The Ring uses gods and godesses as emotional characters, why is that less ridiculous than accepting an Sieglinde with a different ethnic appearance than Siegmund? They are the son and daughter of Wotan, I think it just enriches the character composition. I have objections against Jessye in that role, but they don't concern her skin colour.

[Lampodoria]

Einfach hinreißend und bezaubernd !

Peter Hofmann bleibt unvergessen.

[SinoSene]

@SinoSene ...physical similarities between these characters. It is their love for each other which breaks the natural order of marriage (or some such thing as Wotan's wife points out) that is the main driving force of the story. At least that's what I find fascinating and end up focusing on. And if they look different, well, that is in my eyes a minor point. It has been interesting discussing this with you! But as far as I'm concerned I think I'm going to leave it with this. Regards SS

[SinoSene]

@luziederschrecken Well, I've responded to a lot of this before so I won't repeat myself. But on a general level I would have to say that focusing too much on appearance would leave us just there, at the level of appearance. I think that it would be a shame not to look past it and listen to the expression of the emotion expressed by the characters. I would like to make one point, and that is that when I listen and watch these operas, at no point do I stop and marvel at the ...

[luziederschrecken]

@SinoSene Ehtnicity is not the problem. The twins just should be similar. If they were both African or both Asian I wouldn't have any objections. But in my view their similarity is an important part of the story, not just a minor detail.

[luziederschrecken]

@SinoSene In my oppinion they should neither be of different age nor very different looks. They are real twins and their similarity is the reason why they recognise each other as such.

[luziederschrecken]

@SinoSene Well, it's diffcult to argue one should leave apperances aside when the point that they recognise each other because of their similar appreance is in the lyrics of the opera. Wouldn't it be at least halfway ridiculous when they sing about how similar they look when in fact the singers look completely different?

[gaemp]

what a back-throated voice,...

[windstorm1000]

TERRIBLE SETS. TERRIBLE COSTUMES & DIRECTION. This is a NOT a legendary production. Wolfgang W. got suckered that he had to make the Ring contemporary. This pro. has nothing to do with the ancient mystery of Wagner's score. Avant g. Chereau & Boulez, his lackey, are asses. They came to Bay. to reinvent the wheel. What the f-- does a victorian house/factory have to do with W.'s masterpiece? Luckily, even B & C can't ruin Wagner's music though they certainly test the viewer's enjoyment.

[Leoboy729]

Rest in peace, Peter Hofmann (1944-2010).

[luziederschrecken]

@SinoSene But it's all in the lyrics. They don't just fall in love but they recognize each other as brother and sister and their similarity is essential for both. As they are both lonely and homeless (Sieglinde a slave and Siegmund an outcast) they are drawn to each other by much more than just sexual attraction.

One more thing about ethnicity: Of course they could both be of any ethnicity as long as they are the same.