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Posted by Doundou Tchil
on February 25, 2009, 3:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Der fliegende Hollander at Covent Garden"
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Any reviewer has a right to his own opinion. Personal remarks about a reviewers health and background are demeaning and unnecessary.
I was at the performance too, as were many people whose opinion I respect. "It has its moments" said one. Principally for Terfel admirers. But as Terfel said recently to an interviewer, he hasn't been challenged. This production, by Tim Albery, focussed mainly on Senta and her frustrations, to the extent that the Dutchman's role needed to be downplayed. This Dutchman wasn't any more ravaged or haunted than Daland. Similarly, his sailors, when they appeared were neatly uniformed. No way they'd spent centuries at sea.
Even more worryingly, when the Norwegians look at the haunted ship, they face the audience, shining torches at the people who shelled out £200 in the orchestral stalls. What is Albery implying ? Of course Wagner sneered at his benefactors, but he didn't connect the Dutchman and what Daland represents at all. On the contrary. That's why Senta desperately wants out.
Given this production there was no way a more idiomatic musical performance would have been advised, or it would show up the staging. As Dr Berry says, there was little of the panoramic sweep that makes Wagner's music so distinctive, which this opera does reveal. Instead, the performance emphasized aspects of the opera that hark back to earlier aria based German opera with set piece numbers and genre vignettes. Fair enough, but this opera is important because it shows how far Wagner was heading.
It's easy to confuse the quality of an opera with its performance. Obviously, people respond favourably because this is a wonderful opera. Incidentally it hasn't been heard at ROH for nine years, long before the memory span of many. Naturally, it can be enjoyed on its own terms, however a performance might turn out. No one needs to know anything about Wagner to have a good time at this opera. But a bit of knowledge and experience really makes a difference in assessing performance.
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