Die Walküre waltet frei

On Thursday evening I dragged my mother to Covent Garden for Die Walküre. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was beautiful.

For those who haven't been keeping track: Wagner's Ring cycle consists of four operas. For this latest production, Covent Garden has premiered one opera each year for the past four years, and this year they're finally staging all four in order. Bryn Terfel, who sang the role of the god Wotan (Odin) for the first time in this production, had to pull out earlier this year due to a family crisis-- which is ironic, since the Ring is basically an enormous family crisis in itself.

So this time round, Terfel has been replaced by Sir John Tomlinson, who has been Britain's stalwart Wagnerian bass for many years. I've heard him sing many times, including Wotan twice before. Trust me when I say that to my knowledge he has never sung better than in this production.
( Come with me to the opera )

Die Walküre waltet frei

On Thursday evening I dragged my mother to Covent Garden for Die Walküre. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was beautiful.

For those who haven't been keeping track: Wagner's Ring cycle consists of four operas. For this latest production, Covent Garden has premiered one opera each year for the past four years, and this year they're finally staging all four in order. Bryn Terfel, who sang the role of the god Wotan (Odin) for the first time in this production, had to pull out earlier this year due to a family crisis-- which is ironic, since the Ring is basically an enormous family crisis in itself.

So this time round, Terfel has been replaced by Sir John Tomlinson, who has been Britain's stalwart Wagnerian bass for many years. I've heard him sing many times, including Wotan twice before. Trust me when I say that to my knowledge he has never sung better than in this production.
( Come with me to the opera )