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Lyric Opera of Chicago Production of Wagner's Ring Cycle
March 28th - April 3rd, 2005
Memories of Chicago Ring, 2005
For their 2005 Ring revival, Lyric Opera of Chicago assembled a Valhallan cast - possibly the best Wagner cast assembled in the past 40 years.
Outstanding Cast:
- Siegmund: Placido Domingo
- Wotan: James Morris
- Brunnhilde: Jane Eaglen
- Sieglinde: Michelle De Young
- Siegfried: John Treleavan
- Fricka: Larissa Diadkova
- Erda: Jill Grove
- Loge: Bonaventura Bottone
- Mime: David Cangelosi
- Alberich: Oleg Bryjak
- Fafner: Raymond Aceto
- Hagen: Eric Halfvarson
- Hunding: Eric Halfvarson
The package included:
The Chicago Ring Intinerary:
Monday, March 28, 2005
Arrive at the airport, transfer to the Palmer House Hotel.
5:30 Welcome Wine and Cheese
Transfer to the Opera House
7:30 Das Rheingold
10:30 Private post-opera discussion with wine and cheese.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Full breakfast
9:45 Tour of Chicago
Transfer to the Opera House
6:00 Die Walkure
Box Lunch at Opera Intermission
Transfer to hotel
Private post-opera discussion and wine and cheese.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Full breakfast
10:30-4:30 Panel discussion at the Art Institute of Chicago on 19th- and 20th-century art and film inspired by the Ring. It was followed by a mini recital featuring Lyric artists in a scene from Die Walkure. Panelists included renowned scholars Jeffrey Nigro, David Levin, Eric Weimer, and Lyric Opera dramaturg Roger Pines. It concluded with a self-guided tour of works of art discussed.
5:30 Wagner Society of America Dinner and Program - Crystal Room, Chicago Athletic Association
6:15 Buffet Dinner
7:30 Program - Dr. Bernard Dobroski - "How to Conduct Die Walkure".
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Full breakfast
Transfer to the Opera House
6:00 Siegfried
Box Lunch at Opera Intermission
Transfer to hotel
Private post-opera discussion and wine and cheese.
Friday, April 1, 2005
Full breakfast
Transfer to John Hancock Building
8:00 Epicure Dinner, John Hancock Building
Transfer to hotel
Saturday, April 2, 2005
Full breakfast
Transfer to the Opera House
5:30 Gotterdumerung
Box Lunch during intermission
Transfer to hotel
Private post-opera discussion and wine and cheese.
Sunday, April 3, 2005
Full breakfast
Transfer to airport
Before the curtain went up on Rheingold, I was invited to share my views of The Ring with Chicago Tribune reporter Nina Metz. Trust me; there is nothing I like better than talking about The Ring. This is my mission in life! As an added bonus, the article with my picture appeared in the Tribune on the same page as a picture of my hero, Placido Domingo.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARTICLE COMING SOON.
DAS RHEINGOLD
Das Rheingold begins in the primordial depths of the Rhine. The first creatures we encounter are mermaids swimming above the stage in the depths of the Rhine. Evil soon appears, in the form of Oleg Bryjak as Alberich. Bryjak is a worthy adversary of James Morris’s Wotan. Alberich steals the gold, makes a Ring of it, renounces love and prepares to rule the world. Although it is often said that Wagner operas move slowly, here we have the plot ready to go after only 15 minutes.
During this opera, we move from water to land then underground and finally up the rainbow bridge to Valhalla in the sky.
One Chicago touch was the portrayal of Valhalla as a building, which looked to me, suspiciously like the regal John Hancock Building.
DIE WALKURE
Die Walkure is often regarded as the favorite of the Ring operas. Although I regard as my favorite Ring opera the one I am watching at the time, there were plenty of reasons to pick this Walkure as the best opera production.
Placido Domingo as Siegmund and Michelle DeYoung as Sieglinde were a stunning couple; visually and musically. They were perfectly matched as both twins and lovers. How could they not fall in love?
As she handed him the drink, Domingo, always the consummate performer, touched DeYoung’s hand for a few seconds longer than necessary. The haunting motive of falling in love was palpable, and the audience was swept away with the inevitable. Once the impressive Eric Halfvarson as Hunding was put to sleep, the excitement and joy of the young lovers built to a stunning climax. Domingo and DeYoung at their best.
Later, we were to learn that Domingo had been ill during that performance, which may have accounted for his drinking more of Sieglinde's drink than is usual; however it was not evident in his voice or actions. Bravo Domingo.
The other act that deserves special note was the third act; beginning with the Ride of the Walkures - an impressive bunch indeed; and ending with Wotan’s farewell to his beloved daughter.
In just one day, Wotan has lost the people who matter most to him - his twins, his wife, and his daughter.
Jane Eaglen manages the spectrum of emotions from playful to horrified, in that clear, strong voice, that has made her the Brunhilde of our day.
Between Acts 2 and 3, I went backstage and was informed that I could meet Domingo if I were willing to miss the third act. Even though a Life Goal is to meet Domingo, missing Act 3 of Walkure is not an option. Sorry, Placido.
James Morris is Wotan. His tragic, passionate farewell to his daughter epitomizes the universal pain of loss of love. The audience was silent during this beautiful scene; and Wagner himself would have been proud.
There are good reasons why this is the favorite Ring opera.
SIEGFRIED
John Treleaven ably portrayed Siegfried as less obnoxious than often played. However, many of the scenes were stolen by David Cangelosi as Mime. This young, attractive tenor transformed himself into an old yet athletic Mime, who sang beautifully, with no trace of the whining and screeching often associated with this role. Cangelosi is an alumnus of Lyric Opera's Center for the Performing Artists. Chicago can be very proud of him; as was his young mother who sat next to me during the performance.
Morris’s Wotan has become older and wiser in this opera. His final scene, the encounter with Siegfried had a wonderfully human touch. As he left the stage defeated, broken spear in hand, he had a small smile on his face, proud that his grandson had matured, and would be a worthy partner for his Brunhilde. The torch is passed.
In Act 3, Eaglen ably shows her acting and vocal talents as the human incarnation of Brunhilde is awaken into a new world, and encounters Siegfried, love, her sexuality, her humanity for the first time. The young lovers’ passion builds and builds into an ecstatic climax.
GOTTERDAMMERUNG
From the pastoral beginnings of the final opera, Siegfried leaves Brunhilde for more adventures.
The Gibbich castle is majestic, even though its master Gunther (Alan Held) is anything but. Held was a suitably wimpy Gunther, and his sister, Gutrune (Jennifer Wilson) showed glimpses of who she could have become without her brother’s influence. Bryjak’s Alberich passed on the family’s stage presence; vocal and acting abilities as well as the evil to son Hagen (Eric Halvarson).
This was a very solid Gotterdammerung, drawing its audience into its spell and leading them to the inevitable cathartic ending, pleasantly exhausted, waiting for the next Ring and the opportunity to do it all over again.
August Everding’s production of this Ring utilized narrow beams of light - red, white, green, blue - throughout the 4 operas, to represent water and fire. When Gotterdammerung was presented pre-Ring cycle in February 1995, Siegfried’s death was signified by a straight white line slowly moving across the whole stage, signifying his no longer beating heart. This was one of the most stunning moments in this production. For some unknown reason, the white line was omitted from the March, 1995 complete Ring production and also was not present in this Ring production. It was replaced by a lowered curtain. Yes, Siegfried’s majestic funeral music can stand alone, however...
One of the difficulties in attending a Ring Cycle is finding time to eat. Chicago has solved this problem by selling box lunches. So during intermissions, one has to step over people in their finest - gowns and tuxes - seated on the stairs or floors, eating their prized box lunch. Cognitive dissonance anyone?
Our tour group attended a panel discussion at the Art Institute of Chicago. The panel discussion was on 19th- and 20th-century art and film inspired by the Ring and was followed by a mini recital featuring Lyric artists in a scene from Die Walkure. Panelists included renowned scholars Jeffrey Nigro, David Levin, Eric Weimer, and Lyric Opera dramaturg Roger Pines. It concluded with a self-guided tour of exhibits.
Our tour group also took an Architectural Tour of Chicago. We began with the exterior of the Art Institute of Chicago. A pre-teen boy on the bus tour pointed out the statues of the origins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles--Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello--all four residing outside the Art Institute--the inspiration and introduction of these names to pre-teens around the world. We also had opportunities to investigate some of Chicago's skyscraper's interiors, which are often richly decorated in Art Deco style. A highlight of the tour was a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House.This 1909 house was built in his prairie style--with striking horizontal lines, a low overhanging roof and a long wall around the base of the house. Wright designed everything in the house, furniture, windows, and his attention to details, such as a smaller fireplace in the children's room, and the exact placement of table and chairs for maximum harmony and function. The Robie House is complete. No need for added pictures or decorations. In the grand room, all the windows open to the outside terrace, and it was easy to imagine Chicago's finest attending functions in this room over the past century. The Robie House would not be out of place in 21st century cities.
Memorable Pictures:
Chicago Yatch Club -- We joined the Wagner Society for dinner, fun, and a lesson on conducting Die Walkure.
Epicure Dinner at 95th Floor John Hancock Building
Lyric Opera Chicago, Valhalla Opera Tours Private Box
June Slobodian
Tour Guide and Ring Leader
Valhalla Opera Tours
204-237-4511
valhallaoperatours@shaw.ca
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