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Siegfried
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, September 24, 1981
Debut : Manfred Jung, Elisabeth Payer
Siegfried (230)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
- Siegfried
- Manfred Jung [Debut]
- Br?nnhilde
- Elisabeth Payer [Debut]
- Wanderer
- Donald McIntyre [Acts I, II]
- Wanderer
- Franz Ferdinand Nentwig [Act III]
- Erda
- Jocelyne Taillon
- Mime
- Heinz Zednik
- Alberich
- Franz Mazura
- Fafner
- Aage Haugland
- Forest Bird
- Gwendolyn Bradley
- Set & Projection Designer
- G?nther Schneider-Siemssen
- Conductor
- Erich Leinsdorf
- Director
- Herbert Von Karajan
- Costume Designer
- George Wakhevitch
- Lighting Designer
- Gil Wechsler
- Stage Director
- Wolfgang Weber
Siegfried received six performances this season.
McIntyre cancelled after Act II and was replaced as the Wanderer by Nentwig.
Review 1:
Review of Peter Goodman in Newsday
The champagne of 'Siegfried'
The program notes didn't indicate what Erich Leinsdorf said to his musicians and singers this week, but it must have been - ahem - bracing. For the difference between Tuesday's "Das Rheingold" at the Metropolitan Opera and Thursday's "Siegfried" was the difference
between tap water and champagne.
The Met, unable to schedule Wagner's complete four-work "Ring" cycle this season, is offering the first and third operas. "Das Rheingold" was an acceptable performance with some miscasting. "Siegfried" began at a higher level and finished with something close to magic. There have probably been better "Siegfrieds," but this one will most certainly do until another comes along.
In "Siegfried," the young hero who knows no fear reforges his father's sword, slays the dragon Fafner and then slays the dwarf Mime, who has been trying to poison him. Siegfried meets the Wanderer, who is actually the god Wotan and the hero's own grandfather. Siegfried shatters the Wanderer's spear - thus destroying the god's power - and goes to awaken Br?nnhilde, who has been sleeping under Wotan's spell. As the opera ends, Br?nnhilde and Siegfried are deeply and passionately in love.
That scant outline doesn't say anything of Wotan's initial crimes, consequences of which occupy the entire cycle, Erda the earth goddess. Wotan's plan to redeem himself, the dwarf Alberich and the other themes Wagner wove into his enormous musical myth. But it is.
the music that is most important, not the romantic German philosophizing.
Manfred Jung as Siegfried, and Elisabeth Payer as Briinnhilde were both making their Met debuts, in two of the hardest and most important roles in opera. Jung does not yet have all the power a true Siegfried needs, but he fulfills the other requirements. His voice was rich, warm and flexible, he had no problems reaching all the notes and, best of all, he moved well and believably, both as the impetuous, slightly bullying boy of Act I and the love-stricken swain of Act III.
Payer was a superb Br?nnhilde. Her upper register glowed effortlessly, filling the house with smooth, even musical sound. She and Jung worked excellently together, and Jung had enough power in reserve to almost keep up with her vocally.
Heinz Zednik (Mime), Franz Mazura (Alberich) and Aage Haugland (Fafner) were the only holdovers from "Das Rheingold." Zednik's Mime was marvelous - nasty, hungry, scheming, stupid. He and Jung played most of Act I like a domestic drama between two people who have lived together too long. Mazura's Alberich was a dangerous insect. There have been deeper Fafners, but Haugland sounded fearsome enough - and it was a good thing the dragon was only make-believe.
Jocelyne Taillon was a deep, vibrant, powerful Erda who also demonstrated a very strong upper register. Donald McIntyre sang the Wanderer for two acts, but withdrew because of throat problems and was replaced by Franz-Ferdinand Nentwig.
Leinsdorf worked wonders in the pit. The orchestra sounded tight, rich and alive. The brasses were rumblingly powerful, the strings clean and pure. "Siegfried" is a tremendous work - it began at 7 PM and finished at 11:55 - but this listener was more awake at the end than the beginning.
Search by season: 1981-82
Search by title: Siegfried,
Met careers
- Erich Leinsdorf [Conductor]
- Manfred Jung [Siegfried]
- Elisabeth Payer [Br?nnhilde]
- Donald McIntyre [Wanderer]
- Franz Ferdinand Nentwig [Wanderer]
- Jocelyne Taillon [Erda]
- Heinz Zednik [Mime]
- Franz Mazura [Alberich]
- Aage Haugland [Fafner]
- Gwendolyn Bradley [Forest Bird]
- Herbert Von Karajan [Director]
- G?nther Schneider-Siemssen [Set & Projection Designer]
- George Wakhevitch [Costume Designer]
- Gil Wechsler [Lighting Designer]
- Wolfgang Weber [Stage Director]