Richard Bratby

Crapcore: ENO’s The Rhinegold reviewed

Cartoonish characterisation and crappy visuals from Richard Jones but the cast was excellent and the finale was a moment of wonder

The singing, throughout, is strikingly fresh and clear: Blake Denson (Donner), Julian Hubbard (Froh), John Relyea (Wotan) and Madeleine Shaw (Fricka) in ENO's The Rhinegold. Photo: © Marc Brenner
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  • The Rhinegold

    London Coliseum, in rep until 10 March

Tubas and timpani thunder in The Rhinegold as the giants Fasolt and Fafner, having built Valhalla, arrive to claim their fee: Freia, goddess of beauty and youth. It doesn’t go well. Suddenly Fasolt drops his defences and declares his yearning (the translation is John Deathridge’s) for ‘a woman who’d lovingly and softly live with us lowly mortals’.

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