Wagner: Das Rheingold

11/02/2007
Bob Crimeen
Sunday Herald Sun (Australia)
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In short: More pure gold Wagner from the Torrens River bank.

Before he had penned a single note to breathe operatic life into the self-penned poems that would become the libretto of his mighty Der Ring des Nibelungen tetralogy, Richard Wagner had structured Das Rheingold to be “a big prelude” to Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung.

Das Rheingold projects the musical grandeur and dramatic thrust that garnered the theatrical staging much critical acclaim.

Charismatic Israeli conductor Asher Fisch reaffirms his status as one of the supreme contemporary Wagner interpreters, aided immeasurably by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

The 14 gallant soloists’ contributions are to be admired, but those whose nerve-ends tingle most of the sound of the bass voice will be tempted to hit the repeat button to have John Wegner (Alberich), John Bröcheler (Wotan) and Andrew Collis and David Hibbard as the giants Fasolt and Fafner, thrill them again.