Wagner
Crime and punishment
In one of the more peculiar concerts that I have been to at the Royal Festival Hall, Vladimir Jurowski conducted…
Delusions of grandeur
Any adequate performance of Tristan und Isolde, and the first night of the Royal Opera’s production was at least that,…
Triumphant Tannhäuser
Seventeen years ago the Norwegian National Opera staged two cycles of the Ring in Norwich’s Theatre Royal, performances that have…
Power of ritual
This week, I have been mostly listening to Parsifal. Not the St Matthew Passion, which is my usual Passiontide fare.…
Underpowered Wagner
Debussy’s description of the music of Parsifal as being ‘lit up from behind’ is famous; less so is Wagner’s own…
Long life
Back home from a week in Italy, I almost feel that I haven’t left. For I go almost at once…
The anniversary addiction
Centenaries now seem to be the only reason that publishers and concert planners do anything at all
Wagner’s dream
It would be interesting to know why Tristan und Isolde was placed in the Proms programme in between Siegfried and…
Diary
Hay-making was easy this year, and over in good time for a holiday. I am opposed to holidays, having worked…
A Ring for eternity
The first complete performance of Wagner’s Ring cycle at the Proms is already, less than a week after its conclusion,…
Taking up the challenge
There are no two ways about it: Wagner’s Ring cycle, the biggest challenge that any opera company can face, has…
