Freezing temperatures and a home tv set on college basketball? The perfect excuse to hunker down in my theatre seat for one of the longest opera's I have seen yet.
Götterdämmerung!! The final chapter to Wagner's Ring series...ahhhh!!
Again, the cool 3 dimensional sets were used and the headlining Deborah Voight and Jay Hunter Morris were phenomenal. How difficult a 6 hour performance could be is something I don't want to even begin to attempt. How they kept their energy and momentum is still unfathomable. But, they did it. I was once again, in awe of their physical ability to sing those notes in German.The orchestration as visioned by Fabio Luisu was beautiful, haunting and mesmerizing!
In this last installment. Siegfried sets out into the world to do heroic deeds by his one true love Bruunhilde. Where does he end up? In a house of deceit, The Gibichung home of Gunther, Gutrune and their half brother, the son of Alberich, former family keepers of the ring and all its betrothed gold.
A plan is devised, a potion is administered and Siegfried suddenly forgets all about Bruunhilde and becomes enchanted with Gutrune. A wife for his comrade and blood brother, a scene straight out of any manly movie, is needed and they convince him that Bruunhilde is the worthy choice. But, they need his heroic rescue of her to set her at Gunther's side.
Long story short...against her will, but because one fearless, disguised hero crosses the fire to take her hand, she sets home with Gunther and Siegfried uses the tarnhelm, returns to the castle. Bruunhilde doesn't want to be there, she longs for her true love, Siegfried. He shows himself, with Guntrune, madly in love, still under the potions effects. Bruunhilde becomes enraged, feeling betrayed, she tells the whole story, Siegfried not having a memory of their past, denies it, and Gunther become humiliated by all the truth.
Gunther needs to end his humiliation and must destroy Siegfried so Hagen devised yet another plan. A hunt is set, a reverse potion is given and when Siegfried remembers his one true love, he is murdered. The Ring still on his hand, and Hagen can't wait to get it. He will have the gold and control...HA!
They take Siegfried's body back to the castle. Bruunhilde and Gutrune are both devastated. Lies, betrayal, love and murder! Yep, even early opera's knew what kept audiences interested and on the edge of their seats.
Bruunhilde decided's how to honor him, and save the much desired ring and all it's power. She sets up a hero's funeral, she leaps into the the flames with her one true love, as they burn his body sending his soul to the gods. What does she do with the ring, you ask? She removed it from Siegfried's hand curses it and throws it to the depths of the Rhine. The river overflows destroying all of the Gibichungs' hall. Hagen, trying to retrieve the ring leaps into the water, drowns and the Rhinemaidens joyfully reclaim their gold and in the distance, Valhalla and the Gods are seen surrounded by the flames.
LONG opera...but, still a better way to spend a cold Saturday afternoon! My mind, soul and brain are filled and resting now.
Can't wait for the next performance!! We've got Ernani on February 25th, Manon on April 7th and I can't wait to see La Traviata on April 14th!
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