Perhaps the public then and now, more than a decade later, do have a point. To make a valid artistic statement and provide a magical audience experience, Wagner’s Ring does not need the crutch of ideological imagery or the overuse of technology to produce special effects that can often prove too distracting, if not overpowering-to the detriment of one’s enjoyment of the music and appreciation of the work’s universal message. Wagner the composer-poet-cultural revolutionary, after all, chose not to encapsulate his characters in the fervid socio-political images of his time, borrowing instead from the imagery of ancient mythology, perhaps confident of its applicability to any time and any place. In 1997 and in the ensuing revivals, those who came to the Metropolitan Opera in search of a production that was true to Wagner’s intentions went home feeling amply rewarded and spiritually exalted. It is no small wonder that this production, captured for posterity on CD and DVD, remains an international favorite and an operatic landmark.
- © GC/FanFaire