Comments on: Rhinegold

By: Kieran Healy

Kieran Healy — Mon, 08 Mar 2004 11:14:14 +0000

The hordes of orange-suited slaves subject to Alberich’s arbitrary rule couldn’t help but remind me of Primo Levi’s account of Auschwitz Surely the orange boiler suits in a quasi-industrial setting reminds one first and foremost of Oompa Loompas (although their jumpsuits were green and white).

By: TomD

TomD — Mon, 08 Mar 2004 10:34:06 +0000

Ah, OK. It’s rather difficult to portray Alberich at the head of his cowering, screaming Nibelung workforce without going big on the theme of arbitrary power and cruelty, then; boiler suits or no boiler suits.

By: Chris Bertram

Chris Bertram — Sun, 07 Mar 2004 18:20:45 +0000

Tomd: No, I said it was arbitrary power, labour and cruelty that made me associate with Levi. The orange boiler suits were, I conjectured, supposed to make us think of Guantanamo (an idiotic suggestion if that’s what was intended). There was a screen to cover W at first (which later got pulled back). He seemed to hang on to the towel very tightly indeed, though – and who can blame him!

By: TomD

TomD — Sun, 07 Mar 2004 18:14:02 +0000

I’m tempted to say “That’s ENO for you”, but that would be unwarranted. Singing Wagner with English words does tend to put a damper on the vocal talent: all the diphthongs, schwa’s, etc. Orange boiler suits don’t say Auschwitz to me, but then I haven’t read all of Levi. What happened when Wotan got out of the bath? Was there a strategically positioned towel? Perhaps we were meant to deduce that the emperor had no clothes. In a film, a bath scene is treated by cross-cutting; a staged production allows no such luxuries.

By: Everybody's Dark Secret.

Everybody's Dark Secret. — Sun, 07 Mar 2004 17:39:32 +0000

I was so hoping this was a Brian Eno produced version of the Rhinegold. Well, you’ve seen his cover of “Here comes the Warm Jets.) A pole dancing scene in a Brian Eno production would not be out of the question. Nevermind.

By: Ophelia Benson

Ophelia Benson — Sun, 07 Mar 2004 17:00:51 +0000

The guy who talked most about it on ‘Saturday Review,’ a great Wagner fan, really hated it.

By: teep

teep — Sun, 07 Mar 2004 13:17:31 +0000

I keep filling out the surveys that my opera has (season ticket holders get customer-satisfaction surveys) in favor of Wagner. One of these days, there will be Wagner. On that day, I sincerely hope that the production involves chicks wearing metal breastplates and horned helmets. If there is Wagner that doesn’t involve chicks wearing metal breastplates and horned helmets, I will feel pretty gypped.