Saw
that BBC4 was showing the Ring Cycle starting tonight with Das Rheingold. Love the way the BBC is so keen to promote classical music and opera on these digital channels, which they say is what they are for, that no mention is made of this broadcast in the Radio Times, no articles, no nothing. I spotted it by sheer accident. Was then a tad irritated to find that the sound on the digital channels had disappeared and I could not get it back. OK on the other channels though so I looked at my hi-tech digibox that cost me all of £35 and thought it needed a bit of fine tuning. After playing with the plugs etc and checking the sockets were all plugged in and all was ok and finding that I was getting nowhere fast, I decided drastic action had to be taken. I picked up the digibox and gave it an almighty thump while swearing profusely at what a useless bit of junk it was. It worked. Back came the sound and I was able to watch the opera. Not sure that this is probably a wise thing to do very often (bash the box I mean) so may have to get another box just to be on the safe side. It is Die Walkure next week, my favourite out of the four operas.
The post is called I knew I was Right (not buying tickets for the current run) as watching this production again has once more confirmed my low opinion of its fussiness and irritating and unnecessary bits of business and the utter pointlessness of some of the production settings. Why have Wotan pick up a chess set, walk across the stage with it, singing all the while, sit down on the floor and start a game of chess with his wife Fricka? I am sure there is some deep symbolic meaning here I am missing (or perhaps not). I listened to the producer talking about his 'vision' prior to the broadcast and can honestly say I didn't understand half of what he was talking about.
However, the reason I added 'I Think' to the post's title was the fact that I though I have chosen not to purchase tickets for the cycle this autumn, the one shining factor that nearly persuaded me to part with my cash was, of course, Bryn Terfel. Magnificent voice, rolling out with ease and authority, every note sung with clarity and emphasis, quite quite wonderful and actually listening to his performance in the opera house as opposed to watching on TV, is a magical experience. Never mind, I have seen him sing Wotan several times now and, having taped this performance tonight, will be able to listen to him again whenever I want to.
And, no, the picture is NOT the mighty Bryn...
