Posted April 19, 2015

Posted April 20, 2015

Sometimes the best opera productions are the ones performed concertante! In this video, Simon Rattle conducts a 2004 performance from Baden Baden filmed for television. Rattle leads the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the ensemble plays on period instruments from the mid-19th Century. The cast is really terrific and includes a riveting performance by the late bass baritone Oleg Bryjak.

It is easy to see why Bryjak was highly sought after in this role and why the opera world is shattered by the loss of this great singer and his colleague, alto Maria Radner.

Wagner – DAS RHEINGOLD

Sir Willard White – Wotan
Oleg Bryjak – Alberich
Kim Begley – Loge
Yvonne Naef – Fricka
Robbin Leggate – Mime
Geraldine McGreevy – Freia
Anna Larsson – Erda
James Rutherford – Donner
Timothy Robinson – Froh
Peter Rose – Fasolt
Robert Lloyd – Fafner
Kate Royal – Woglinde
Karen England – Wellgunde
Christine Rice – Flosshilde

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sir Simon Rattle

Baden-Baden, 2004

https://youtube.com/watch?v=CUFWNKFajjA 

The image is one of the art works from the Cal Pedranti Collection, property of the Wagner Society of Northern California

He Da, He Do 1988-89 Cal Pedranti