Tannhäuser - Royal Opera House, 11 December 2010 (first night)
The Royal Opera House's publicity blurb describes Tannhäuser as "Wagner’s great battle of the sensual and the spiritual". But there's no sex and and barely any religion in Tim Albery's thoughtful but often perplexing new production. In their place is a drab tussle between grim and grimmer with a few class overtones tossed in. It's salvaged mainly by the inspired conducting of Semyon Bychkov and some splendid singing.
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Tim Albery's new production of Tannhäuser opens at the Royal Opera House tonight.
In the title role we have Johan Botha, pictured in the chair in which he spends most of the opera. OK, so the camera adds 10 pounds, but where did the other extra 200 come from? Check overleaf to find out (and double click on photos to enlarge. If you dare.)
Continue reading "new Royal Opera House Tannhauser in pictures" »
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Das Rheingold / Die Walküre - Bayreuther Festspielhaus, 27 and 28 July 2010
Tankred Dorst's Bayreuth Ring, now in its final year, has found few admirers. Yet there's been no booing so far this year - evidence that its crimes are those of tedium and incompetence rather than outright offensiveness.
Continue reading "The Bayreuth Ring: Das Rheingold and Die Walkure" »
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