Das Rheingold, Opera North | reviews, news & interviews
Das Rheingold, Opera North
Das Rheingold, Opera North
The orchestra enjoys itself on stage in a thrilling concert production
Sunday, 19 June 2011
'Like a small child being dragged furiously to bed': Michael Druiett as Wotan, Nicholas Folwell as Alberich and Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke as Loge in Opera North's 'Das Rheingold'Clive Barda
After years of planning, Opera North's Ring cycle gets under way. The orchestra pit at the Leeds Grand Theatre is too small for Wagner's oversized orchestra. So this is a concert staging, to be repeated in the coming months at The Sage Gateshead, Birmingham's Symphony Hall and The Lowry in Salford. It's really a blessing, meaning that production staff don't have to grapple with Wagner's extravagant stage demands in order to make the impossible appear tangible. What Opera North have done is engage lighting designer Peter Mumford to create a concert staging.
After years of planning, Opera North's Ring cycle gets under way. The orchestra pit at the Leeds Grand Theatre is too small for Wagner's oversized orchestra. So this is a concert staging, to be repeated in the coming months at The Sage Gateshead, Birmingham's Symphony Hall and The Lowry in Salford. It's really a blessing, meaning that production staff don't have to grapple with Wagner's extravagant stage demands in order to make the impossible appear tangible. What Opera North have done is engage lighting designer Peter Mumford to create a concert staging.
Richard Farnes is not afraid to let his augmented forces let rip and fill the hall with sound
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