[Met Performance] CID:290180

New Production

Das Rheingold
Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, October 9, 1987

Debut : Waltraud Meier, Anne Gjevang, Phillip Joll, Horst Hiestermann, Mi Hae Park, Meredith Parsons (2)




Das Rheingold (115)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Wotan
James Morris

Fricka
Waltraud Meier [Debut]

Alberich
Franz Mazura

Loge
Siegfried Jerusalem

Erda
Anne Gjevang [Debut]

Fasolt
John Macurdy

Fafner
Aage Haugland

Freia
Mari-Anne H?ggander

Froh
Timothy Jenkins

Donner
Phillip Joll [Debut]

Mime
Horst Hiestermann [Debut]

Woglinde
Mi Hae Park [Debut]

Wellgunde
Diane Kesling

Flosshilde
Meredith Parsons (2) [Debut]

Set & Projection Designer
G?nther Schneider-Siemssen


Conductor
James Levine


Production
Otto Schenk

Costume Designer
Rolf Langenfass

Lighting Designer
Gil Wechsler





Das Rheingold received eight performances this season.

FUNDING:
Production a gift of Mrs. Donald D. Harrington

Review 1:

Review of Florence Stevenson in unidentified monthly publication

The performance of Richard Wagner's "Das Rheingold" at the Metropolitan Opera on October 9, was one of those nights when everything came into place for an evening of truly epic proportions. Under the inspired conducting of James Levine, the great Metropolitan Opera Orchestra realized every nuance of this magnificent score. Indeed, the effect of the music was well-nigh overpowering! The singing matched in every way and the sets were magical as they fluidly shifted from scene to scene under their cloudy covering.

Heading a cast noteworthy for its memorable singing was the powerful Wotan of bass James Morris, whose voice and acting were truly godlike. Partnering him was Waltraud Meier's Fricka in a most memorable debut. Tenor Siegfried Jerusalem's Loge was splendid both in his acting and singing and Anne Gjevang's debut as Erda was similarly superb. Mi-Hae Park and Meredith Parsons also made their Metropolitan debuts as Woglinde and Flosshilde, who, with Diane Kesling, were a most compelling trio of Rhinemaidens, while basses Aage Haugland and John Macurdy as the fearsome giants Fafner and Fasolt made equally strong impressions. Horst Hiestermann making his debut as Mime shone in his role while Mari-Anne Haggander and Timothy Jenkins as Freia and Froh rounded out this expert cast.

One of the many pleasures of the evening was the setting. In the first scene, the mighty waters of the Rhine flowed over the glittering Rhinemaidens and the magnificently ugly Alberich and, in the following scene when the confused coterie headed by Wotan fretted over the demands of the Giant-builders of Valhalla, the stretch of land upon which they stood brought to mind the cooling earth rising from the fires of creation.

The credit for this splendid realization of Wagner's mythic dreams must be shared by director Otto Schenk and by Gunther Schnieder-Siemssen who was responsible for the sets and projections. Rolf Langenfass did the costumes and Gil Wechsler contributed the evocative lighting.

Production photos of Das Rheingold by Winnie Klotz/Metropolitan Opera.



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