Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Das Rheingold | 20121224 | Wagner's Das Rheingold Presented by Donald Macleod From the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Antonio Pappano conducts the first of the music dramas comprising Wagner's epic Ring Cycle, originally broadcast live in October with the rest to be broadcast act by act weekdays over the next fortnight. In Das Rheingold, the dwarf Alberich renounces love and steals the Rhinegold from the Rhinemaidens with which he forges a magic ring. Meanwhile Wotan, chief of the gods, has built his mighty fortress Valhalla with the help of the giants. But in order to pay them back, Wotan in turn needs to steal the Rhinegold back from Alberich. And so with this double theft Wagner sets up the theme of love versus power that reverberates throughout all four dramas. Woglinde.....Nadine Livingston (Soprano) Wellgunde.....Kai Ruutel (Mezzo-Soprano) Flosshilde.....Harriet Williams (Mezzo-Soprano) Alberich.....Wolfgang Koch (Baritone) Wotan.....Bryn Terfel (Bass-Baritone) Fricka.....Sarah Connolly (Mezzo-Soprano) Freia.....Ann Petersen (Soprano) Fasolt.....Iain Paterson (Bass) Fafner.....Eric Halfvarson (Bass) Froh.....Andrew Rees (Tenor) Donner.....Peter Coleman-Wright (Baritone) Loge.....Stig Andersen (Tenor) Mime.....Gerhard Siegel (Tenor) Erda.....Maria Radner (Contralto) Orchestra of The Royal Opera House Conductor, Antonio Pappano. Donald Macleod presents Wagner's Das Rheingold, performed at the Royal Opera House. Programme presenting rare and fascinating operatic performances | |
| 01 | Das Rheingold | 20121016 | Wagner's Das Rheingold Presented by Donald Macleod The first of the music dramas comprising Wagner's epic Ring Cycle launches the relay of the four Ring operas which come live from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden over the next fortnight. In Das Rheingold, the dwarf Alberich renounces love and steals the Rhinegold from which he forges a magic ring. Meanwhile Wotan, chief of the gods, has built his mighty fortress Valhalla with the help of the giants. But in order to pay them back, Wotan in turn needs to steal the Rhinegold back from Alberich. And so with this double theft Wagner sets up the theme of love versus power that reverberates throughout all four dramas. Presentation includes interviews with the artists and also with Wagner expert John Deathridge. Woglinde.....Nadine Livingston (Soprano) Wellgunde.....Kai Ruutel (Mezzo-Soprano) Flosshilde.....Harriet Williams (Mezzo-Soprano) Alberich.....Wolfgang Koch (Baritone) Wotan.....Bryn Terfel (Bass-Baritone) Fricka.....Sarah Connolly (Mezzo-Soprano) Freia.....Ann Petersen (Soprano) Fasolt.....Iain Paterson (Bass) Fafner.....Eric Halfvarson (Bass) Froh.....Andrew Rees (Tenor) Donner.....Peter Coleman-Wright (Baritone) Loge.....Stig Andersen (Tenor) Mime.....Gerhard Siegel (Tenor) Erda.....Maria Radner (Contralto) Orchestra of The Royal Opera House Conductor, Antonio Pappano. Live from the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano conducts Wagner's Das Rheingold. Programme presenting rare and fascinating operatic performances |