Richard Jones is one of the most original and prolific English directors, active in both drama and musical theater in Europe and the United States. He has won the Laurence Olivier Award, Britain’s highest award in theater arts, eight times. In addition, Richard Jones is one of the few artists to stage Wagner for the second time in his career. Ring of the Nibelung. His first version of the tetralogy was created in the 90s at the Royal Opera House in London and was harshly criticized, many at the time felt offended by what they saw on stage. It is now accepted to believe that this absurd aesthetic production was thoroughly ahead of its time.
Other Ring of the Nibelung the master director has been commissioned by the English National Opera, but the project has been thoroughly shaken by both the pandemic and the uncertainty related to the future of this theater – the English National Opera has almost completely lost public funding this year. It is an important cultural institution that aims to make opera as accessible as possible to the widest possible audience (for example, audiences under the age of twenty are invited to attend performances for free). The Covid-19 crisis has messed things up Ring of the Nibelung production schedule: the first one reached the audience Valkyrie November 2021 has now arrived Rhine gold round.
By tradition, all works at the English National Opera are performed in English. A new translation of this tetralogy production has been provided by the noted Wagner scholar John Detridge. By the way, Wagner himself had no objections to the translation of the texts of his operas into English, because it makes it easier to understand.
Director Richard Jones is renowned for his often tongue-in-cheek approach to the material and his performances are permeated with surreal humour. Rhine gold is modern, bright, stylized, sometimes abstract, very touching, witty and comical. The mischievous daughters of Reina have “swimmed” from the gym, the gold of Reina they are guarding is a sweet golden baby, which is stolen by the loathsome nibelung Alberich… When the interests of gods, giants and dwarves collide, the world is in chaos. The gods turn out to be too human – greedy, jealous, full of lust.
Richard Jones pays a lot of attention to the work with the singers and reveals the characters’ relationships and character nuances from an unexpected side. Every role is also like gold: bass-baritone John Relieu (Wotan), baritone Lee Melrose (Alberich), tenor Frederic Ballentine (Loge), mezzo-soprano Madeleine Shaw (Frick), soprano Katie Lowe (Freya), mezzo-soprano Christina Rice sing and act perfectly in the show (Erda), tenor John Findon (Mime), bass James Cresswell (Fafner), bass-baritone Simon Bailey (Fassolt), baritone Blake Denson (Donner) and tenor Julian Hubbard (Fraud).
The show has many original effects – both the rainbow bridge that shows the way across the Rhine to Valhalla, the abode of the gods, and Valhalla itself and its architecture are a figment of the imagination of the authors of the production, which excites and frightens at the same time. A dynamic and colorful performance corresponding to this aesthetic is demonstrated by the orchestra led by maestro Martin Brabins.
Opera Rhine gold It will be played in London on February 26, March 1, 4, 8 and 10.
