“Götterdämmerung” brings the Ring Cycle to a glorious close in San Francisco

Photo: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

The final installment of San Francisco Opera’s Ring Cycle came to a close with a superb performance of “Götterdämmerung” at the War Memorial Opera House on Sunday, July 1. The exceptional cast delivered its A game with Swedish soprano Iréne Theorin and American heldentenor Daniel Brenna leading the way, and the orchestra, under Donald Runnicles collaborating with great sensitivity and panache. All in all, it was a terrific evening for the Francesca Zambello production that brought the third and final week of the Cycle to a glorious close.

Photo: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Theorin plumbed the depths of Brünnhilde with superb singing and acting. She went through the full cycle of emotions from ecstasy to despondency. Her rage against the betrayal of Siegfried was palpable. Brenna created a compelling Siegfried who unknowingly gets duped by the Gibichungs into winning Brünnhilde for Gunther. Brenna’s singing reached incandescent heights all the way to his character’s last breath.

Photo: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Andrea Silvestrelli was totally convincing in his role as the evil Hagen, and the scene in which he uses a knife and a spear to hold off the men after stabbing Siegfried in the back was mesmerizing. Falk Struckmann created a darkly sinister Alberich who invades the psyche of Hagen.

Photo: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

Brian Mulligan deftly portrayed the weak yet conniving character of Gunther. His blood-brotherhood duet with Siegfried was powerful and repulsive at the same time. Melissa Citro went over the top in the role of Gutrune, adding a bit of humor when she tried to massage Gunther’s head and when she attempted to get the TV remote to cooperate.

The three Norns (Ronnita Miller, Jamie Barton, and Sarah Cambidge) sang with distinction as they attempted to deal with a massive strand of cables. Their green garb suggested sanitation workers who had to make sure that they didn’t get contaminated.

Jamie Barton pleaded fervently with Brünnhilde to return the ring to the Rhinemaidens (Stacey Tappan, Lauren McNeese, and Renée Tatum). That trio tried their best to entice Siegfried to give up the Ring even though they had to swim about the polluted Rhine River, contending with tires and trash bags.

Photo: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

The theme of environmental degradation was placed up front and center with new projections designed by S. Katy Tucker, based on original designs by Jan Hartley and Tucker. The imagery complimented the scenery (Michael Yeargan), which was desolate and ominous. For example, the home of the Gibichungs was a glass-enclosed, modern affair that matched the soulless atmosphere perfectly.

There were some questionable actions that occurred at the end the production: The Rhinemaidens capture Hagen and kill him by putting a plastic bag over his head. Siegfried was unceremoniously carted to the edge of the stage and dumped. Tires and bags of garbage were also thrown over the back of the stage and then gasoline was pitched onto it. It all seemed to be a very ugly way to signal an environmental cleanup and renewal of the earth. All that seemed to be forgotten when a young girl came out on the stage bearing a pot with a sapling, which, of course, signified new life.

The opera chorus sang with gusto, and the orchestra played splendidly, fashioning a marvelous sonic experience under the baton of Donald Runnicles. All of the musicians and many of the technical crew joined the performers for the final curtain call as the audience responded with ecstatic applause and cheering.

After the applause died down, Matthew Shilvock, general director of San Francisco Opera, came on stage to present the San Francisco Opera Medal to David Gockley, who was the opera company’s general director from 2006 to 2016. The medal recognized Gockley leadership in which he co-commissioned 11new works, presented 9 world premieres, and co-produced the Ring Cycle for its inaugural run during the 2011 season.

Photo credit: James Bash