A Sunday morning with thoughts wandering…   Any colleagues with whom I have worked at several sites over the past 20 years will probably recollect seeing me at my desk working with some sort of headphones.  From all-covering to the latest AirPods, I have run through several, often abusing them by twisting the often hair-thin wiring to the point of shorting and the silence of no return. Music is a mainstay of my life, and has taught me much, although I can scarcely read a note.  While at work, listening helps me concentrate on thorny issues, often inspiring beyond a … Continue reading Berlin Philharmonic and Organization

Concert Version of a Wagnerian Ring Aria Praising Spring by a GREAT Tenor, Perhaps the Greatest Singing Today, Jonas Kaufmann Winter Storms gave way to the Merry Moon SIEGMUND Winter storms gave way to the merry moon, Springtime gleams in mild light; On bland airs, gentle and lovely He* sways by doing wonders; Through woods and meadows blows his breath, His eye laughs widely apart: – He chimes from overjoyed bird’s sweet singing, He exhales lovely fragrances; Delightful flowers reflourish his warm blood, Germ and sprout arise from his strength. With tender weapon’s ornament he conquers the world; Winter and … Continue reading Sprung Has Spring! Or In New Zealand, it is the Other Way Around!

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows” Bob Dylan, Subterannean Homesick Blues Götterdämmerung (The Twilight of the Gods) There are so many productions of the Ring some of which, post-WWII, were so spare in scenery as to be almost totally concert versions. These mostly occurred at the Bayreuth Festival, a likely result of WWII and all of its implications for things German. Then there are some Ring productions which are tailor made to an ideology, i.e., Boulez/Chereau’s 1980 Bayreuth production which played on the major conflict between the gods and the humans as one between … Continue reading Taking the God’s Name in Vane!

Erda: “My sleep is dreaming; my dreaming, brooding, my brooding brings all my wisdom.” The third opera in the Ring cycle is Siegfried. In 1856, Wagner prepared concurrently two drafts, a complete draft in pencil and a version in ink in which he worked out details of instrumentation and vocal line. The composition of Acts 1 and 2 was completed by August 1857. But Wagner had reached an “artistic” roadblock and left off work on Siegfried to write the operas Tristan und Isolde and Die Meistersinger. Wagner did not resume work on Siegfried until 1869, twelve years later, when he … Continue reading Forest Murmurs & Wotan’s Desperation

The Fat Lady Sleeps There are few YouTube recordings of this final scene with English subtitles.  This one, a concert version, done at the BBC Proms (Albert Hall) by Italian Wagnerian Antonio Pappano and Bryn Terfel as Wotan (Brunnhilde is on stage) captures the beauty of the music and the wonder of the lyrics (written by Wagner himself.  Most operas had a duo teaming up to write music and libretto.  Wagner was unique in that he did ALL of his libretti.  While many may not think his lyrics are as poetic as many poets who were called into such service, they are nonetheless … Continue reading Wotan’s Farewell Die Walküre Act III

“Nicht sehre dich Sorge um mich”  Die Walküre, Act III, involving Brünnhilde and Sieglinde, with the Valkyries in support.  Sieglinde no longer wishes to live, knowing that Siegmund has died at the hands of her husband Hunding in a duel.  But Sieglinde has also just learned from Brünnhilde that she bears the child of this very Siegmund, her brother, with whom she has slept.  This child, Siegfried, is reason enough for her to go on living (although she dies in childbirth between this opera and Siegfried) as Siegfried is the last hope of saving the gods and redeeming the world (As it will turn out, is … Continue reading The Redemption of Love

 Bayreuth Festival Merkel Attends 2017 Festival Opening  July 25th opening night featured Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Wagner’s powerful meditation on art! “Wagner’s music is better than it sounds” as Mark Twain was reported to have said. After 40 years of listening, watching, reading, and studying all things Wagner, I can say that Twain was in his own way, right.  Repeated listenings are the trick! And, after repeated listenings it does sound much better, in fact sublime. Like any passion or hobby, one gets drawn in, and after a while, the time spent or invested becomes almost effortless as you seek … Continue reading The World Reborn in 4 Nights. Finnegans Wake!

A good selection.  I am always amazed by this aria, whoever sings it.  And I would add that, while anything but a musician,  I do know that it is harder to sing the aria in the opera than part of a concert performance. Continue reading Die Aria (aka Diarrhea)