This remarkably bloated work–it runs for three hours and 24 minutes and features a 16-minute overture–is necessary listening for Wagner family completists and those who wish to continue to follow young Siegfried Wagner’s pathology in dealing with his complicated, dysfunctional family (he wrote the libretto as well as the music to this family saga). Set in Reggio Calabria in 1194, it concerns Rainulf’s attempt to discredit his good brother, Osmund, in the eyes of their mother, Albiria. He tells her that he is a thief and murderer, and oddly, she believes him and then drops dead. Osmund is in love with the lowborn Beata; Rainulf does not approve. He, Rainulf, loves Adelasia, but she loves Osmund; meanwhile Rainulf is carrying on with the slutty Graziella, a dancer. I won’t even go into the political machinations regarding the Hohenstaufens, or the supernatural elements, which concern a seeress named Sigilgaita.
Luckily–or not–this performance probably is the best we’ll ever hear, or not hear. Roman Trekel, who always seems to be involved in this mini-Siegfried Wagner revival, is a terrific Osmund, who manages his scenes with handsome tone and real passion. Tenor Frank van Aken sings Rainulf’s endless arias–10 minutes at a time, and frequent–with a strong sound, but he cannot possibly keep our interest in this Tannhäuser-sized role. Elisabeth-Maria Wachutka is very effective as Adelasia–she has visions and only wants to do the right thing–and she bears up vocally under her lengthy monologues as well. The rest of the large cast impresses for their stamina and the fact that they care. The playing and singing of orchestra and chorus are first rate under Werner Andreas Albert, who genuinely seems to believe in the score. The sound favors the orchestra slightly.
I realize I’ve reviewed two other of Siegfried Wagner’s operas for Classicstoday.com (and Daniel Felsenfeld reviewed another) and that we keep saying the same thing: good orchestration, no real dramatic flair, scenes that go on forever, hideously convoluted plots. Ditto here.
