SIEGFRIED, ROH Covent Garden, 21 October 2007

Cast:
Mime...........Gerhard Siegel
Siegfried..................Jon Trevleaven
Wanderer...................John Tomlinson
Fafner....................Philip Ens
Woodbird..................Ailish Tynan
Erda..................... Jane Henschel
Brunnhilde................Irene Theorin

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor................Antonio Pappano

Director.................Keith Warner
Set Designs..................tefanos Laziridis

Yet again, I start by praising Antonio Pappano and the orchestra, the beautiful
subtlety of the Forest Murmurs movement, and especially the serene beauty
of the orchestral passage as Siegfried emerges onto the mountain-top - I
always feel when I hear this that I don't want him to start singing and break
the spell, and never more so than last night!
John Tomlinson was perhaps not in quite as good voice as he had been in DIE
WALKUERE, but this suits the characterisation of the weary Wanderer, who is
still able - just - to frighten Mime with his spear, but of course has no effect
on Siegfried. I especially liked the scene with Alberich (Peter Sidhom), as the
contrast between them was so well conveyed, Tomlinson convincing in
Wotan's declaration of his wish to stand aside and let the younger generation
take over, Sidhom conveying the fact that Alberich HAS NOT CHANGED AT
ALL, the venom in his voice says it all!
I could hardly hear the Mime (Gerhard Siegel) most of the time- and I
gathered that many people in the audience had a similar problem. Trawling
back through my archives, I discover that I had the same problem two years
ago! So I am wondering if it's part of the characterisation - Pappano is usually
very sensitive to the needs of the singers, and never lets them be
overwhelmed by the orchestra. The situation did improve during Act II, and I
was amused by the metamorphosis into the rat when Mime reveals his evil
intentions towards Siegfried.
Jon Treleaven was unfortunately unable to cope with the demands of the role -
he managed the Forging Scene quite creditably, but in the final scene he
was visibly, and audibly, exhausted, hardly managing to sing in tune. Everyone
applauded him for effort, anyway, because he did do his best.
Irene Theorin stood in for Lisa Gasteen and was a sympathetic young
Brunnhilde - she probably won't be able to cope with the
GOETTERDAEMMERUNG Brunnhilde, so if Gasteen has not recovered, we must
hope that Susan Bullock takes over again.
The staging - there are some aspects I like, and some I can do without.....I
actually like the crashed plane round which Mime and Siegfried have made
their home, especially when the Wanderer unexpectedly clambers out of the
cockpit. I was less impressed with the Forest, which looked rather like Santa's
grotto, especially with the stuffed animals. The final few moments of Act II
served to emphasise Siegfried's extreme youth and silliness...he's about to run
off after the Woodbird, and she (played by a young woman dressed in white)
has to point at his sword to remind him to go back for it, THEN to remind him
to go back for the Tarnhelm (silly Rubik's Cube - I'm STILL not happy with
that!) and the Ring.
A couple of days' break, then on Wednesday it is GOETTERDAEMMERUNG.