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Wagner: Das Rheingold

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6.4/10 • 4

1980-08-122h 23m

Music

This is a beautifully conducted and thoughtfully staged performance of the first opera (the prologue) in Wagner's Ring Cycle. As soon as the clouds of mist have dissipated, while the daring, long-held opening chord is still reverberating, the screen clears to show not only the River Rhine and the three maidens (dressed like prostitutes in this production) assigned to guard the gold hidden there. It also shows an enormous dam (not mentioned in Wagner's text). This is the underwater base of a hydroelectric plant, and its presence tells us two things immediately: that this production takes the story out of the vaguely medieval fantasy world in which Wagner had placed it, and that a basic theme of the four-opera cycle would be power. Alberich, the Nibelung, is willing to renounce the love of women, after stealing the gold from the Rhine, to become the ruler of the world. Another basic theme is greed.

Directors
Brian Large
Writters
Richard Wagner

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Pierre Boulez

    Pierre Boulez

    Self - Conductor

  2. Donald McIntyre

    Donald McIntyre

    Wotan

  3. Martin Egel

    Martin Egel

    Donner

  4. Siegfried Jerusalem

    Siegfried Jerusalem

    Froh

  5. Heinz Zednik

    Heinz Zednik

    Loge

  6. Hermann Becht

    Hermann Becht

    Alberich

  7. Helmut Pampuch

    Helmut Pampuch

    Mime

  8. Matti Salminen

    Matti Salminen

    Fasolt

  9. Ilse Gramatzki

    Ilse Gramatzki

    Wellgunde

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Status
Released
Original Language
French
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
epicopera