This is a beautifully conducted and thoughtfully staged performance of the first opera (the prologue) in Wagner's Ring Cycle. As soon as the clouds of mist have dissipated, while the daring, long-held opening chord is still reverberating, the screen clears to show not only the River Rhine and the three maidens (dressed like prostitutes in this production) assigned to guard the gold hidden there. It also shows an enormous dam (not mentioned in Wagner's text). This is the underwater base of a hydroelectric plant, and its presence tells us two things immediately: that this production takes the story out of the vaguely medieval fantasy world in which Wagner had placed it, and that a basic theme of the four-opera cycle would be power. Alberich, the Nibelung, is willing to renounce the love of women, after stealing the gold from the Rhine, to become the ruler of the world. Another basic theme is greed.
Pierre Boulez
Self - Conductor
Donald McIntyre
Wotan
Martin Egel
If one server does not work, switch to another server.
August 12, 1980
2h 26m
7.1
Brian Large
Richard Wagner
5
Unitel Classics
N/A
Deutsche Grammophon
DE
Donner
Siegfried Jerusalem
Froh
Heinz Zednik
Loge
Hermann Becht
Alberich
Helmut Pampuch
Mime
Matti Salminen
Fasolt
Ilse Gramatzki
Wellgunde
Fritz Hübner
Fafner
• If the video does not load, change to another server.
• Use fullscreen for the best experience.
• Some sources may have different subtitle timing.
