It seems the
Daniel Barenboim’s Wagner really divides opinions.
Barenboim is a
conductor who takes risks. Urging his players to push their limits in terms of
extreme dynamics, tempo and technique. You can’t have success without risk
taking. If you want your Wagner “safe” then listen to James Levine but for me
Barenboim is full throttle. Not in a superficial “wow” factor way, but by
providing continual depth and renewal for this familiar music.
The result is music
that is always interesting and confronting. That’s why he polarises opinion. I
wasn’t in the Royal Albert Hall for any of these performances but listened over
streamed BBC 3 broadcasts. Sure there
were some orchestral fluffs and Nina Stemme missed an entry in Die Walkure (by
all accounts the venue was like a sauna, which would have played havoc with
instruments and temperaments) but this was a Ring Cycle like no other.
I tuned in
because I had been so overpowered by Barenboim’s account of the Ring in Berlin
in April this year. Was it my imagination or was there something really special
about the Wagner sound the Staatskapelle Berlin and Barenboim produce? After
hearing the Proms performances I am convinced this is something special. Attention
to orchestral detail, inventive tempi and dynamics made the music sound like I
was hearing it for the first time.
The Berlin
production (also staged at La Scala) directed by Guy Cassiers has been much
maligned. I enjoyed it and found it complemented the playing with a subtle
depth. No superficial literal interpretation of the story, but also no
indulgent director fantasy either. It was a nice compromise between two extremes. The idea of incorporating dancers during
orchestral interludes was very unpopular (the dancers were booed during the
performance at the Rheingold I saw in Berlin) but this annoyance tended to
overshadow the inventive aspects and some beautiful visual imagery.
On hearing the
performances from the Proms with a similar cast (including the amazing Andreas
Schager, who we saw in Berlin not only as a last minute replacement for Ian
Storey but also singing Act 1 of Siegfried from the wings when Lance Ryan
failed to show up on time!), I am convinced this is a historic re-inventing of the
Ring Cycle.
