The Rhinegold

RECORDINGS OF THE WORKS

Richard Wagner: Rhinguldet

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The Rhinegold

Description

The price of power. The promise of love. Wagner's great The Ring of the Nibelung opens with a single note from the depths, slowly growing in the orchestra. This is how a universe begins. Over the coming years, mighty music will open up a whole world for us. It is time for the prelude to it all - it is time for The Rhinegold. In January 2027 we begin our journey with Richard Wagner's monumental work The Ring of the Nibelung - and invite you along on an operatic adventure you will never forget. The Ring of the Nibelung consists of three music dramas: The Valkyrie, Siegfried and Ragnarok, plus a prelude: The Rhinegold. From 2027 to 2029 you can experience the works in turn. In 2029 we will also perform the entire cycle within a single week, twice. But first, then - the prelude. What is The Rhinegold about? Deep down on the muddy bed of the Rhine, something enticing glitters. The gold is guarded by the Rhinemaidens, who tease the dark elf Alberich. Whoever owns the gold gains power over the world, they say. Alberich is both provoked and tempted. He steals the gold - despite the Rhinemaidens' warning that whoever takes it will never find love. In the world of the gods, Wotan has built himself a palace he cannot really afford. In desperation he has promised away his sister-in-law, Freia, as payment. His wife, Fricka, is, to put it mildly, not very enthusiastic. It is then that the cunning Loge tells of the gold Alberich has forged into a ring that grants all power in the world … Wotan and Loge travel to Nibelheim, rob him of the treasure and the ring, but the primal mother Erda persuades Wotan to give it up. It does not take long before both we and Wotan see the ripple effects of the curse, which will follow generations - a struggle between loveless power and powerless love. A Ring for our time It is the acclaimed director Tatjana Gürbaca who has been given the task of staging the new production of The Ring of the Nibelung at Nasjonaloperaen. The director is known for her psychologically precise interpretations of human relationships and for sharp, complex portrayals of, in particular, the female characters. With the Opera's music director Edward Gardner on the conductor's podium and a top team of Norwegian and international vocal soloists in the roles, an epic experience of the rare kind is in store. Artistic team and performers Music and libretto Richard Wagner Original title Das Rheingold Musical direction Edward Gardner Director Tatjana Gürbaca Set design Henrik Ahr Costume design Barbara Drosihn Lighting design Stefan Bolliger Performers Operaorkestret Wotan Yngve Søberg Donner Aleksander Nohr Froh Eirik Grøtvedt Loge Magnus Staveland Alberich Johannes Weisser Mime Ya-Chung Huang Fasolt Nicolai Elsberg Fafner Jens-Erik Aasbø Fricka Astrid Nordstad Freia Margrethe Fredheim Erda Anna Kissjudit Woglinde Erin O’Rourke Wellgunde Sandra Bendrik Flosshilde Frida Lund-Larsen