Gotterdammerung
August 30, 2009
Gotterdammerung started out with the Norns, all of whom we have heard before. Luretta Bybee, Stephanie Blythe and Margaret Jane Wray. As expected they were an imposing set of Norns and they sang extremely well. Luxury casting. Janice Baird sang well and except for a badly placed high C in the duet with Siegfried handled the grueling role well. However in the Immolation Scene she really dragged and actually seemed to get lost. The conductor was giving cues I could see from the First Tier but she didn’t seem to notice. But the voice held up well and she managed to jump into the fire. She looked wonderful all evening and her acting was rxcellent. Stig Andersen repeated his beautifully sung lyrical Siegfried. Gordon Hawkins portrayed Gunter’s dilemma well. Marie Plette was a touching Gutrune. Daniel Sumegi, now graduated from dragon to half dwarf half Gibichung was a strong Hagen. We had the privilege of hearing Richard Paul Fink’s Alberich in Act 2. Stephanie Blythe’s Waltraute aptly captured the terror under which she was now living.
Stephanie Blythe actually did triple duty as she also appeared in the Immolation Scene as Fricka as Wotan and the Gods rapturously faced their demise. Again the sets were beautiful. We actually got to see Grane in the Prologue. Of course the audience had to drown out the music by clapping as though they had never seen a horse before. In the Immolation Scene the horse was led on again after Brunnhilde called for him. However he is nowhere near Brunnhilde and she doesn’t even appear to notice him. (But, as I mentioned she didn’t notice the conductor either.) I liked having the Rheinmaidens swim back in and having Brunnhilde actually throw to Ring to them as one of them “took care of” Hagen.
Robert Spano captured the grand sweep of the piece and the orchestra responded beautifully to him. He deservedly got the largest ovation at the end.
