"This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affectations glow and valor is reborn, when the shadows deepen along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn."


Monday, April 25, 2011

"The Ring"....on the Horizon.... One Woman's Version

I'll bet you thought (and perhaps hoped) I would have come to the end of my Opera posts! A-ha-ha! Not so, dear Friends! In a little more than two weeks time, SFO will begin rehearsals for Wagner's "Ring of the Niebelungen". This is an unrivaled event in the world of Opera - consisting of FOUR Operas, over 17 hours of music, love, betrayal, death, and ultimately love. It's a big thing.....and consequently, it isn't done all that often. It costs a lot for an Opera Company to produce a "Ring"....$ for a set designer, conductor, director, singers (not any Opera singer can sing Wagner), chorus and Orchestra. (All of whom I and my Team will be feeding for eight weeks!) I have been fortunate enough to see five complete "Rings" in my lifetime..two of them in Bayreuth, Germany (the Opera House Wagner, himself, had built to host his Operas). Anyway, I digress.... so, to introduce you to what will begin on 12th May....here's a funny "Wagner 101" course by the late, great Anna Russell.




"Our" Walkure from last Summer......featured the "parachuting" Daughters of Wotan!  (You remember this.. - a spectacular entrance to that famous music!)



And the "Magic Fire" as Wotan puts Brunhilde to sleep...(until the end of the next Opera - "Siegfried")..





You don't have to be a lover of Wagner, or of Opera, to enjoy this.  Ho-jo-to ho!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

9 comments:

  1. Aw shoot! It just ate my comment!
    I know some opera, but I think everyone knows some of the *Ring*, even if they are not aware.
    I cannot fathom putting on a production of this size.....amazing!
    Love your Walkure....not the typical at all.

    XXOO~~
    Anne....and now your blog is showing in my dashboard...aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!

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  2. oooh, it's late, and although I'm not a Wagner fan ,I promise to come back to listen/watch both videos! And I'm thrilled you'll experience this again, truly!

    xo
    Lo♥

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  3. Robin, watched the first video and will return to watch the rest. She is a riot. Am excited for you. HOw wonderful you saw the opera in Bayreuth. What an amazing life of travels you have had.

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  4. Anne, I am glad you stopped by for a "taste" of my Operatic World! And....hey....FANTASTIC NEWS that you can finally get my blog on your dashboard! That makes three of you! (You, Lo, and Cris, from Oregon!) Ah...there's hope!

    Hugs,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  5. Lo, thank you for stopping by.....I know it isn't your cup of tea, so to speak.....

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  6. Suki, I am glad you saw the first video! She really was a hoot! And I have always felt it was good to be able to poke fun at things one loves! Laughter is a must!

    As for my "youth'...well, like you, it really was an exciting, adventerous one.... I miss it..but, who knows what new experiences await us!!!!

    Love,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  7. I am happy for you the opera season starts soon :)
    But first I hope you will have a fun weekend before it will start that Monday.
    Can't wait!

    ♥♥♥
    >M<

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  8. Many thanks for introducing me to Anna Russell.

    The Valkirie sound like the ones at ENO a few years back, they abseiled in wearing black special forces outfits.

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