Der Ring des Nibelungen (Amsterdam Ring, DVD): Pierre Audi, Hartmut Haenchen
Das Rheingold
Pierre Audi, Hartmut Haenchen, Graham Clark, John Bröcheler, Henk Smit, Reinhild Runkel, Anne Gjevang |
Die Walküre
Pierre Audi, Hartmut Haenchen, John Keyes, Nadine Secunde, Jeannine Altmeyer, John Bröcheler, Kurt Rydl |
Siegfried
Heinz Kruse, Graham Clark, John Bröcheler, Henk Smit, Jeannine Altmeyer |
Götterdämmerung
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Der Ring des Nibelungen / John Brocheler, Graham Clark, Chris Merritt, Henk Smit, Reinhild Runkel, Albert Bonnema, Hartmut Haenchen, Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, Opus ArteReviews
The sets by George Tsypin are simply breathtaking as well as highly original, making use of wood, stone, glass and metal to create vast and virtually endless spaces while placing the orchestra fully visible in the pit. The action takes place on a semi-abstract sparsely decorated symbolically Ring-shaped stage surrounding the orchestra.
[...]
Keywords of this minimalistic staging are aesthetism, contrasting colours and lights. Key themes are light and darkness with sets build from ramps and platforms surrounding the orchestra. Everything, including the perfect scene changes, takes place under full view of the audience as no stage curtains are used. Stage lights are used with a virtually unseen sophistication revealing the seemingly endless structural layers and spaces of the sets. For these reasons the most epic of the operas - Rheingold and Götterdämmerung work best.
[...]
the musical aspects of this Cycle do not live up to the staging. Worst of all is the lack of stage chemistry between most of the major protagonists, several of whom are mediocre or worse, vocally as well. With the right conductor and cast this Ring could be unforgettable. It still is, but so much more could be achieved by raising the level of some of the key performances.
Mostly Opera
The Ring on DVD
Chéreau/Boulez Ring -
Kupfer/Barenboim Ring -
The Copenhagen Ring -
Schenk/Levine Ring -
Stuttgart Ring -
Kupfer/de Billy Ring -
Amsterdam Ring
Interviews with: Anne Evans, Graham Clark, Iréne Theorin, Stephen Gould
Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Bayreuth Festival - The Ring on CD -