HAVING established base camp over the last four years with each of Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung operas in turn, Opera North is now mounting its assault on Everest itself: the complete cycle in a single season. Six cycles, in fact; two in Leeds, and on tour in London, Nottingham, Gateshead and Salford.
This mighty adventure began last Saturday with Wagner’s "preliminary evening", in which we learn of the Rhine gold and its capacity for exciting greed and destruction between gods, giants and nibelungs, the race of dwarves beneath the river.
In Peter Mumford’s production, for which he also provides designs, lighting and projection, the action is semi-staged. Much the best aspect of this is having the entire orchestra, well over 100 players, across the stage behind the singers. Its sound, unmuffled by a pit, thus gleams splendidly straight into the auditorium.
In previous years, I have hailed the orchestral contribution, Wagner’s “moving matrix of the music”, as crucial to the evening’s success. It still is, perhaps more so than ever. This is conductor Richard Farnes’s swansong with the company. His unflagging inspiration keeps the orchestra as fresh after two-and-a-half unbroken hours as it has been at the start.
Opera North conductor Richard Farnes: swansong. Picture: Clive Barda
Three giant screens project translations and occasional narrative over a background of primordial swamps, running waters, twinkling fire or the misty mountain steeps of Valhalla, home of the gods.
But in truth the contributions of orchestra and singers leave little to the imagination. After a stirring prelude, which rises through an immense crescendo, the Rhinemaidens provide a light-hearted introduction. But it is Michael Druiett as Wotan, chief of the gods and resplendent in tailcoat, whose majestic, seamless bass-baritone provides the backbone to the voices, assisted by Yvonne Howard’s captivating Fricka, his wife.
The machinations of Jo Pohlheim’s devious dwarf Alberich are balanced by Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke’s flexible tenor as Loge, god of fire, flickering his fingers like flames. James Creswell and Mats Almgren are menacing giants. But there is not a weak link in this cast. A mouth-watering start.
Continues on Saturday, until July 10; operanorth.co.uk
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