Markus6974 anyone who is able to respond with an open heart to music and drama loves the ring. I have illustrated it with various suitable images, mainly by arthur rackham. To be fair though, he did take 12 years off while in the middle of writing siegfried the third opera. Warwick fyfe as alberich in the melbourne ring cycle. The ring cycle is a comedy of pain about a woman on the last day of her marriage trying to figure out what to do with her wedding ring. Wagners ring cycle begins at the metropolitan opera. Though most agree it is a rather dull affair, for those placing major emphasis on stagings richard wagner would recognize, this is the set to get. Wagner envisioned a special opera house created especially to perform the ring cycle. What would a wagner related awards ceremony be without a significant prelude.
Trailer for robert lepages new production of wagners ring cycle, starring bryn terfel, deborah voigt, and jay hunter morris. The ring cycle s overwhelming demonstration of the gesamtkunstwerk is a thing to behold, and you can see it here performed in full, all four parts, 15 hours of epic opera courtesy of bbc arts and the space. Walking through london, she has a series of encounters that propel her toward a new relationship. E ven in an era in which performances of wagners ring come around more frequently than. If anyone has borred you with the joys of wagner this is the perfect antidote. Schenklevinethe only traditional staging of the ring available on dvd.
Anna russell is a little known musical comediene, but in this album she gives a complete introduction and explanation of the ring cycle as well as other muscial piecesthat is. Anna russells legendary talk about wagners ring cycle. Wagners epic ring cycle is one of the greatest operatic works in existence. Its a production ive wanted to watch for some time. Anna russell composer 19112006 play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. The first farewell concert 1984 skip navigation sign in. Anna russell composer 19112006 play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical. After pointing out that gutrune, a character in the last part of the ring cycle, is the first. Aug 11, 2014 anna russells comedic summary of wagners ring cycle anna russell.
The remastering of old recordings on todays cd format has been a boon to ring devotees. Trust me, it is worth watching all three parts, even if you know nothing about opera. And from a production perspective it doesnt disappoint. The ring of the nibelungs an analysis by anna russell. Anna russell combines her excellent knowledge of and training in opera with her brilliantly satirical wit to create hilarious sendups of wagners the ring cycle. It is a series of 4 operas written during the mid19th century by the german composer richard wagner. The film here, by opera north, comes from live performances in leeds in 2016. The works are based loosely on characters from the norse sagas and the nibelungenlied. The ring cycles overwhelming demonstration of the gesamtkunstwerk is a thing to behold, and you can see it here performed in full, all four parts, 15 hours of epic opera courtesy of bbc arts and the space. This year will see the first of what will be an annual wagnerian readers awards affectionately and henceforth known as the erdas the reasons for which shall become apparent later in the month but first, we asked readers to chose the greatest recorded ring cycle in four different categories. Feb 28, 2007 this is my second download of anna russell being. Wagner was one of the most revolutionary classical composers who ever lived, he inspired and influenced all the composers who came after him and he also sparked some of the weirdest videos on the internet. The hour flies by as workers soundlessly shift massive sets while the show goes on in front of the curtain, and the viewer is repeatedly mesmerized by the choreographed movements of dozens as they coordinate, position and maneuver the sets while staying. She gave many concerts in which she sang and played comic musical sketches on the piano.
Controversial is a mild word for robert lepages production of wagners ring cycle, which has just finished its second cycle of the year at the metropolitan opera in new york and has been described as anything from witless and wasteful to merely adequate. Whether you love the ring cycle or just love the absurdity of. Made from rhine gold, coveted, fought over, cursed in anger. The valencia ring, spain 2009 chapter eleven of david.
Russell was the daughter of an upperclass canadian society belle and an english army colonel. I do not know how exactly many ring cycles are available but i would guess at least thirty. The first farewell concert, live 1984 dvd because it is so funny. How to improve an epic fourpart classical masterpiece.
A ring cycle will always be the pinnacle of even an established. And the brilliant thing is that when anna russell did one of these, she stayed as close as possible to actual musicological research and verifiable data. Anna russell the ring cycle explained behind the black. The 7 most bizarre wagner videos ever made classic fm. Anna russell was an englishcanadian singer and comedian. If you go in there with a tin voice, youll come out with a loud tin voice. Oct 24, 2006 after years of study at the royal college of music, anna russell, who has died aged 94, observed. The standout performance of the cycle has to be john tomlinson as wotan. The hour flies by as workers soundlessly shift massive sets while the show goes on in front of the curtain, and the viewer is repeatedly mesmerized by the choreographed movements of dozens as they coordinate, position and maneuver the sets while. Shakespeare, perhaps the worlds first psychic opera critic, summed up the ring cycle perfectly. Anna russell the ring of the nibelung an analysis youtube. In spite of, or perhaps because of, her upbringing as a british lady of society, anna claudia russell brown became regarded as the worlds funniest woman for her witty satire of classical music.
Anna russell s comedic summary of wagners ring cycle anna russell. Nila parly is a research fellow in music and theatre at the university of copenhagen. After years of study at the royal college of music, anna russell, who has died aged 94, observed. The ring cycle is a special event and is not part of opera australias regular season. Join facebook to connect with russell ring and others you may know.
It is quite an exciting ring and the commitment and singing perfection all round is impressive. Several years ago, somebody posted a magnificent summary of wagners ring cycle. You can see parts 2 and 3 of the entire comedy routine here and here. It is perhaps the greatest work of art of any kind in the world. Conceived and written over a period of more than 25 years, wagners ring cycle is an epic musical journey of four operas. This last class is devoted to watching and listening to excerpts from the ring. Among her bestknown works are her concert performances and famous recordings of the ring of the nibelungs an analysis a humorous 22minute synopsis of richard wagners. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury and signifying nothing bergisman just stupid. The result was the text of the fouropera ring cycle.
But thats over several days, with days off between each of the four operas and long breaks after every act. With natalie dormer, emun elliott, llewella gideon, katie lyons. County has a relatively concise and wellwritten precis of the ring cycle that you can. The ring of the nibelungs an analysis live by anna russell on.
He brings everything that the character should be and more. Anna russell wagner ring cycle nibelungen sketch 1953 version. Anna russell wagner ring cycle nibelungen sketch 1953. Anna russell is a little known musical comediene, but in this album she gives a complete introduction and explanation of the ring cycle as well as other muscial piecesthat is simply seat wettingly funny. Oh my goodness, i absolutely loved this documentary, which focuses on the stagehands behind a production of wagners operatic ring cycle. Anna russell, john coveart, harry dworkin the anna. Anna russells comedic summary of wagners ring cycle anna russell.
Each ring cycle is sold as a 4opera series and tickets are available for complete 4opera cycles only. Loony tunes kill the wabbit spoofed the ring cycle, and became an entire generations first, and often. Anna russell was wonderful at translating high culture like opera into lively funny commentary. Anna russell, in one of her last concerts, explains wagners ring cycle.
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