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The legendary Bayreuth Centenary production of Wagner's Ring is distinguished by Patrice Chéreau's once-shocking production, which has acquired the status of the most trenchant modern interpretation of the cycle. Das Rheingold is the opening of the four Ring operas, setting the scene with the theft of the Rhine gold, first by Alberich and then by the giants on behalf of Wotan on a train of greed that will inexorably lead to the demise of the gods. Supported by Pierre Boulez's typically penetrating interpretation, the cast is magnificently led by Donald McIntyre as Wotan.



CAST:
Hermann Becht: Alberich
Martin Engel: Donner
Ilse Gramatzki: Wellgunde
Fritz Hübner: Fafner
Siegfried Jerusalem: Froh
Donald McIntyre: Wotan
Helmut Pampuch: Mime
Carmen Reppel: Freia
Matti Salminen: Fasolt
Marga Schiml: Flosshilde
Hanna Schwarz: Fricka
Norma Sharp: Woglinde
Ortrun Wenkel: Erda
Heinz Zednik: Loge

REVIEW:
Joe McLellan, Amazon.com

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.

The cast is uniformly excellent. The approach of stage director Patrice Chereau carefully balances realism, symbolism, and fantasy. The two giants (Matti Salminen and Fritz Hübner) tower over the gods who are waiting to enter the newly constructed Valhalla; Loge (brilliantly played by Heinz Zednick) appears in a burst of flame; the subterranean lair of the Nibelungs looks something like a prison and something like a mass-production sweatshop. In contrast, the gods look like members of a rather aimless leisure class. Freia, the goddess of youth (Carmen Reppel), whose fate is one of the basic items in the plot, is presented as a lovely but helpless beauty queen. Pierre Boulez conducts this episode. like the entire cycle, with power and precision.

Works on This Recording
Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner
Performers: Donald McIntyre, Martin Egel, Siegfried Jerusalem, Heinz Zednik, Hermann Becht, Helmut Pampuch, Matti Salminen, Fritz Hübner, Hanna Schwarz
Conductor: Pierre Boulez
Orchestra/Ensemble: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1856; Germany