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Wagner: Das Rheingold
TITLE DETAILS

Wagner: Das Rheingold

1980-08-12 · 146 min · ★ 7.1

Music

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.

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Production details

Directors
Brian Large, Patrice Chéreau
Production companies
Unitel Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, Bayreuther Festspiele
Countries
Germany
Status
Released

Top Cast

Donald McIntyreDonald McIntyreWotan
Martin EgelDonner
Siegfried JerusalemSiegfried JerusalemFroh
Heinz ZednikHeinz ZednikLoge
Matti SalminenMatti SalminenFasolt
Fritz HübnerFafner
Hermann BechtHermann BechtAlberich
Helmut PampuchMime
Hanna SchwarzHanna SchwarzFricka
Carmen ReppelFreia
Ortrun WenkelOrtrun WenkelErda
Norma SharpWoglinde
Ilse GramatzkiWellgunde
Marga SchimlFlosshilde
Pierre BoulezPierre BoulezSelf - Conductor

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Streaming

Carnegie Hall+ Apple TV channel, Carnegie Hall+ Amazon Channel

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