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Opera Australia: Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold

by Heather Leviston 16th December, 2013
by Heather Leviston 16th December, 2013
193

Arts Centre Melbourne/18 November 2013

*****

There was certainly a buzz of excited anticipation as opera lovers mingled with the glitterati for the unveiling of Opera Australia’s first Ring Cycle – the monumental work that is said to mark the coming of age of an opera company.

Any images of the staging of this production have been kept as closely guarded as Fafner’s golden hoard with one exception: the Rhine maidens. Sparkling with rhinestones and sporting Tivoli showgirl plumage, they would even outdo the bling worn by the audience. Although looking more fowl than fish, the physical charms of Lorina Gore, Jane Ede and Dominica Matthews made totally credible objects of desire. In the flesh, they proved to be equally persuasive as vocally gorgeous, playful temptresses.

What was not expected was the opening vision of humanity lying on a slowly revolving stage, with a giant overhanging mirror providing a bird’s eye (or perhaps god’s eye) view. Dressed in bathing costumes and coming in all shapes, sizes and ages the movements of this skillfully choreographed sea of humanity grew in intensity with Wagner’s music. From the sombre opening low E flat a rapt audience was transported into a surging Rhine. Dancers lifted the Rhine maidens joyously over the waves. Light gleamed on the gold as the bathers waved shimmering handfuls of golden tinsel, mesmerizing the Nibelung dwarf Alberich and audience alike.

Taking on the role of Alberich at short notice, Warwick Fyfe impressed both vocally and dramatically. If the honours went to any one performer on the opening night then they were his and the audience acknowledged his outstanding contributions enthusiastically. His voice has gathered power and focus over the years to become a formidable instrument, which he is able to colour to great effect. His fury at the Rhine maidens’ mockery and his eagerness to renounce love in order to forge the ring that will give him mastery over the world dripped with malevolence. His transformation from would be lover to violent despot enslaving the inhabitants of Niebelheim was remarkably convincing.

Neil Armfield’s reputation as one of Australia’s foremost theatre directors was very much in evidence in this recreation of Albrecht and in the work of the other singers. His ability to nuance the interaction between the characters and reveal their inner motivations reflected an imaginative appreciation of Wagner’s dramatic and musical intentions.

Along with an emphasis on the human dimension, Armfield’s collaboration with set designer Robert Cousins explored further parallels between Wagner’s world and a more contemporary setting. The giants Fafner and Fasolt, who had built Valhalla for Wotan, made their appearance on cherry pickers, crashing through a replica of the backdrop used for the first production of Rheingold. They are giants of the construction industry in their suits, pink ties and dark glasses. With strong, dark voices and strutting gait, Daniel Sumegi and Jud Arthur made an imposing pair. Wagner’s rejection of the excesses of the industrial revolution with its emphasis on power and wealth at the expense of nature finds expression in the giants’ acceptance of Albrecht’s hoard of gold, including the ring and the tarnhelm, as an alternative to the feminine comforts of the goddess Freia. In this production the hoard takes the form of shiny gold boxes with the inscription 4G PHONE. This turned out to be a tellingly prescient conception as the gold iPhone was coincidentally launched soon after.

In the pivotal role of Wotan, Terje Stensvold was outstanding. He has a commanding presence and a voice of great richness, power and beauty. It was immediately evident that his qualities would make the next two operas in the cycle experiences that should not be missed. Other strong performances added to the success of this production. Graeme Macfarlane’s portrayal of Mime was more vibrant and less servile and whining than is sometimes the case and Richard Berkeley-Steele gave Loge the edgy wit and vitality needed for this trickster. Deborah Humble was a rich-voiced, compelling Erda, wearing a Chanel suit and wielding a cane for the blind, whilst Jacqueline Dark was suitably forceful as Fricka.

Of course, the crucial ingredient for artistic success was the orchestra. Despite the off-stage drama surrounding the change of conductor, the choice of Pietari Inkinen has proved to be a most happy one. It has been well worth the considerable expense involved in taking out those rows of seats to accommodate the expanded orchestra, which excelled itself on opening night. Attention to fine detail and the shaping of the dynamics from barely audible to full orchestral splendour brought Wagner’s score to thrilling life.

The final scene, with its array of rainbow-coloured showgirls leading the way to Valhalla with their highly disciplined fan waving, married effectively with the depiction of the Rhine maidens. A further echo of the showgirl motif was the way the tarnhelm transformations were executed. In fact, the audience will still be pondering the mysteries of that conjuror’s trick. While there were moments when the staging was fairly minimal and others that verged on the gimmicky, ultimately the choices made by Armfield, Cousins and costume designer Alice Babidge worked.

At the end of the dress rehearsal, I had wondered whether a second viewing of this production would be less satisfying with the surprise element lacking. In fact, the reverse was the case and I was not alone in wanting to be transported yet again. The standing ovation that greeted the almost three hours of unbroken magic was richly deserved.

Melbourne Ring Orchestra/Conductor: Pietari Inkinen

Director: Neil Armfield/Set Designer: Robert Cousins/Costume Designer: Alice Babidge/Lighting Designer: Damian Cooper

CAST in order of appearance: Woglinde: Lorina Gore/ Wellgunde: Jane Ede/ Flosshilde: Dominica Matthews/

Alberich: Warwick Fyfe/ Wotan – Terje Stensvold/ Fricka: Jacqueline Dark/F reia: Hyeseoung Kwon/Fasolt: Daniel Sumegi/ Fafner: Jud Arthur/ Froh: Andrew Brunsdon/ Donner: Andrew Moran/ Loge: Richard Berkeley-Steele/ Mime: Graeme Macfarlane/ Erda: Deborah Humble

 

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Heather Leviston

Heather Leviston has devoted much of her life to listening to classical music and attending concerts. An addiction to vocal and string music has led her to undertake extensive training in singing and perform as a member of the Victoria State Opera chorus and as a soloist with various musical organisations.

As a founding academic teacher of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, she has had the privilege of witnessing the progress of many talented students, keenly following their careers by attending their performances both in Australia and overseas.

As a reviewer, initially for artsHub, and also for Sounds like Sydney, she has been keen to bring attention to the fine music-making that is on offer in Australia, especially in the form of live performance. Heather is a valued member of Classical Melbourne’s editorial team, with her reviews of opera and vocal music valued by performers and audiences alike.

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Events Calendar

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$20 – $196

1 event, 27

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: MSO Mornings: Pictures at an Exhibition

June 27 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: MSO Mornings: Pictures at an Exhibition

A vast palette of symphonic colour Experience Mussorgsky’s vivid musical translation of watercolours and drawings by the composer’s friend, Viktor Hartmann.…

$20 – $99

2 events, 28

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Event Series

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Unleashed

June 28 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Event Series

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Unleashed

Virtuosic Skill. Raw Talent. Pure Baroque. It’s unleashed. Feel the rush of Baroque like never before in this bold, electrifying program,…

$20 – $196
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Ryman Healthcare Winter Gala: Lang Lang

June 28 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Ryman Healthcare Winter Gala: Lang Lang

Dazzling charm and extroverted drama The singular piano sensation of this century returns for one night only with the MSO and…

$155 – $270

3 events, 29

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Thomas Heywood – Concert Organ Spectacular!

June 29 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Thomas Heywood – Concert Organ Spectacular!

Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Organ Music in Australia  (1825 - 2025) Melbourne Town Hall – Sunday 29 June at 2pm…

Free
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Lee Abrahmsen and Kevin Tamanini in recital

June 29 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Lee Abrahmsen and Kevin Tamanini in recital

The Lieder Society of Victoria presents the wonderful soprano Lee Abrahmsen and pianist Kevin Tamanini. Sunday 29 June 2025 3:00 PM…

$20 – $30
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Event Series

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Unleashed

June 29 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Event Series

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Unleashed

Virtuosic Skill. Raw Talent. Pure Baroque. It’s unleashed. Feel the rush of Baroque like never before in this bold, electrifying program,…

$20 – $196

0 events, 30

0 events, 1

0 events, 2

0 events, 3

0 events, 4

0 events, 5

0 events, 6

May 20
May 20 @ 7:00 pm - June 1 @ 9:00 pm Event Series

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL

May 26 @ 8:00 am - 9:30 pm

Paul McMillan – Berio to Bach

May 20
May 20 @ 7:00 pm - June 1 @ 9:00 pm Event Series

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL

May 27 @ 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Open Rehearsal with Elim Chan

May 27 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Event Series

Opera Australia: Hades Town

May 27 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Sophie Rowell and Kristian Chong play Sutherland and Beethoven

May 20
May 20 @ 7:00 pm - June 1 @ 9:00 pm Event Series

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL

May 28 @ 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Event Series

Opera Australia: Hades Town

May 28 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Event Series

Opera Australia: Hades Town

May 28 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Celebrating 60 years of Music at Monash – Concert 1

May 20
May 20 @ 7:00 pm - June 1 @ 9:00 pm Event Series

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL

May 29 @ 7:30 pm - 9:40 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Grieg’s Piano Concerto

May 29 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Event Series

Opera Australia: Hades Town

May 29 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Ensemble Offspring – Double Symmetry

May 20
May 20 @ 7:00 pm - June 1 @ 9:00 pm Event Series

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL

May 30 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Event Series

Opera Australia: Hades Town

May 30 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Seraphim Trio – Debussy and Tchaikovsky

May 20
May 20 @ 7:00 pm - June 1 @ 9:00 pm Event Series

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL

May 31 @ 2:00 pm - 4:10 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Grieg’s Piano Concerto

May 31 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Event Series

Opera Australia: Hades Town

May 31 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Imaginista Quartet with Craig Hill

May 20
May 20 @ 7:00 pm - June 1 @ 9:00 pm Event Series

FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL

June 1 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Acord: Dragonslayers

June 1 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Opera presents the grand French opera Samson & Delilah

June 2
June 2 @ 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Scheherazade Quick Fix at Half Six

June 2 @ 7:30 pm - 9:10 pm

Stephen Hough

June 3
June 3 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Live at Toorak: Richard Tognetti x Konstantin Shamray

June 3 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Opera presents the grand French opera Samson & Delilah

June 4
June 4 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: First Voices Showcase

June 4 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone™ in Concert

June 5
June 5 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

More Than Opera BrunnhAilde – A Wagnerian Concert

June 5 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm

More Than Opera: BrunnhAilde – A Wagnerian Concert

June 5 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone™ in Concert

June 6
June 6 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Event Series

Forest Collective: Fat Pig – The Opera

June 6 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tempo Rubato: The Crossing Machine

June 6 @ 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Secret Symphony

June 7
June 7 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone™ in Concert

June 7 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Event Series

Forest Collective: Fat Pig – The Opera

June 7 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone™ in Concert

June 8
June 8 @ 10:30 am - 9:30 pm

Woodend Winter Arts Festival 2025

June 8 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Event Series

Forest Collective: Fat Pig – The Opera

June 9
June 9 @ 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Woodend Winter Arts Festival 2025

June 10
June 10 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Musica Viva Australia: Northern Lights

  • There are no events on this day.
June 12
June 12 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: A Reflection in Time

June 12 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Invenio – Bits and Pieces

June 13
June 13 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: A Reflection in Time

June 13 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tempo Rubato – Danaë Killian: Piano Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

June 14
June 14 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event Series

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic: HAYDN’S The Creation

June 14 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Event Series

Royal Melbourne Philharmonic: HAYDN’S The Creation

June 14 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Ensemble Liaison: Ensemble Liaison with Brigid Coleridge

June 14 @ 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm

Speak Percussion: Pigeons

June 14 @ 7:30 pm - 8:45 pm

Speak Percussion: Pigeons

June 14 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: A Reflection in Time

June 15
June 15 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Tempo Rubato – MATTUTINO: Rio Xiang and Cedar Newman

June 15 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Preston Symphony Orchestra: Resurgence

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
June 18
June 18 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Tudor Choristers: TCHAIKOVSKY’S SACRED MUSIC

June 18 @ 7:30 pm - 8:40 pm

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra: Ethereal

  • There are no events on this day.
June 20
June 20 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

ANAM at the Convent: ELISION Ensemble

June 20 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Event Series

ABC Classic and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra present Classic 100 in Concert

June 21
June 21 @ 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Event Series

ABC Classic and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra present Classic 100 in Concert

June 22
June 22 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Event Series

Australian Chamber Orchestra: ACO Unleashed

June 22 @ 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Melbourne Recital Centre Baroque Competition 2025

June 23
June 23 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Australian Chamber Orchestra: ACO Unleashed

June 24
June 24 @ 10:30 am - 11:15 am Event Series

Nobuntu – Relaxed Performance

June 24 @ 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm Event Series

Nobuntu – Relaxed Performance

June 25
June 25 @ 11:00 am - 12:15 pm

Mostly Mozart – Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven

June 25 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Nobuntu

June 25 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Lang Lang in Recital

June 26
June 26 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Event Series

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Unleashed

June 22
June 22 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Event Series

Australian Chamber Orchestra: ACO Unleashed

June 22 @ 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Melbourne Recital Centre Baroque Competition 2025

June 23
June 23 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm Event Series

Australian Chamber Orchestra: ACO Unleashed

June 24
June 24 @ 10:30 am - 11:15 am Event Series

Nobuntu – Relaxed Performance

June 24 @ 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm Event Series

Nobuntu – Relaxed Performance

June 25
June 25 @ 11:00 am - 12:15 pm

Mostly Mozart – Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven

June 25 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Nobuntu

June 25 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Lang Lang in Recital

June 26
June 26 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Event Series

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Unleashed

June 27
June 27 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: MSO Mornings: Pictures at an Exhibition

June 28
June 28 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Event Series

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Unleashed

June 28 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Ryman Healthcare Winter Gala: Lang Lang

June 29
June 29 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Thomas Heywood – Concert Organ Spectacular!

June 29 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Lee Abrahmsen and Kevin Tamanini in recital

June 29 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Event Series

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra: Baroque Unleashed

  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
  • There are no events on this day.
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Our point of differenceby Editor Suzanne Yanko

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Introducing Classic Melbourne

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Speech at launch by Conductor Andrew Wailes

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