Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor..................Antonio Pappano
Director.................. Keith Warner
Set Designs................Stefanos Laziridis
Yet again, I start by praising Antonio Pappano and the orchestra, the beautiful subtlety of the Forest Murmurs movement, and especially the serene beauty of the orchestral passage as Siegfried emerges onto the mountain-top - I always feel when I hear this that I don't want him to start singing and break the spell, and never more so than last night!
John Tomlinson was perhaps not in quite as good voice as he had been in DIE WALKUERE, but this suits the characterisation of the weary Wanderer, who is still able - just - to frighten Mime with his spear, but of course has no effect on Siegfried.
I especially liked the scene with Alberich (Peter Sidhom), as the contrast between them was so well conveyed, Tomlinson convincing in Wotan's declaration of his wish to stand aside and let the younger generation take over, Sidhom conveying the fact that Alberich HAS NOT CHANGED AT ALL, the venom in his voice says it all!
I could hardly hear the Mime (Gerhard Siegel) most of the time- and I gathered that many people in the audience had a similar problem. Trawling back through my archives, I discover that I had the same problem two years ago! So I am wondering if it's part of the characterisation - Pappano is usually very sensitive to the needs of the singers, and never lets them be overwhelmed by the orchestra. The situation did improve during Act II, and I was amused by the metamorphosis into the rat when Mime reveals his evil intentions towards Siegfried.
Jon Treleaven was unfortunately unable to cope with the demands of the role - he managed the Forging Scene quite creditably, but in the final scene he was visibly, and audibly, exhausted, hardly managing to sing in tune. Everyone applauded him for effort, anyway, because he did do his best.
Irene Theorin stood in for Lisa Gasteen and was a sympathetic young Brunnhilde - she probably won't be able to cope with the GOETTERDAEMMERUNG Brnnhilde, so if Gasteen has not recovered, we must hope that Susan Bullock takes over again.
The staging - there are some aspects I like, and some I can do without.....I actually like the crashed plane round which Mime and Siegfried have made their home, especially when the Wanderer unexpectedly clambers out of the cockpit. I was less impressed with the Forest, which looked rather like Santa's grotto, especially with the stuffed animals. The final few moments of Act II served to emphasise Siegfried's extreme youth and silliness...he's about to run off after the Woodbird, and she (played by a young woman dressed in white) has to point at his sword to remind him to go back for it, THEN to remind him to go back for the Tarnhelm (silly Rubik's Cube - I'm STILL not happy with that!) and the Ring. A couple of days' break, then on Wednesday it is GOETTERDAEMMERUNG.
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