Suchtgefahr

In the organizer's words:

16 hours of drama, intrigue, passion and ruin. The whole thing is packed into four not exactly short operas, which should be experienced in one sitting if possible to keep track of the whole thing. A monumental feat of strength, not only for the gods and heroes on stage and the huge orchestra, but also for the audience: quite a few people capitulate to Richard Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung as a result - and deprive themselves of a magnificent experience. Lorin Maazel's The Ring without Words, a classic in the concert hall for almost 40 years, is a good introduction for the hesitant and at the same time a great moment for seasoned Wagner fans: without changing a single note of Wagner's original score, Maazel distilled Wagner's gigantic work into a symphonic poem lasting around 70 minutes. The miracle is that the magic of the story about the omnipotence of fate works even without heroic tenors. From the mysterious waves of the Rhine to the entry of the gods into Valhalla, from the Ride of the Valkyries to the magic of fire, the score is bursting with unsurpassable orchestral hits.

Wagner's Wesendonck-Lieder for female voice and orchestra also tell of the omnipotence of love and all the pain it can cause. The creator of the five poems set to music was Wagner's muse Mathilde Wesendonck, adored by him, but unfortunately already married and subsequently - how obvious! - model for the title protagonist in the opera Tristan und Isolde. Here, too, two people cannot find each other; their love and passion remain unfulfilled, at least in this earthly life. The magnificent mezzo-soprano Rinat Shaham lends her voice to great emotions, Susanna Mälkki tames huge waves of sound and lets the orchestra shine.

Program

Richard Wagner
Wesendonck songs

The Ring without words
Compiled by Lorin Maazel
1848-74, 1987

Cast

Rinat Shaham mezzo-soprano
Susanna Mälkki Conductor

Price information:

Tickets for young adults U29 for €8 Prices €60/48/38/26/20/12