Götterdämmerung, november 2014
Richard Wagner’s music is, in performances like these with an orchestra and conductor on top of their game, like a drug. As irresistable as it is musically challenging. After listening to something like the last act of Götterdämmerung for me the extravaganza of Scriabin and the expressionism of Dutilleux becomes a whole lot more comprehensible. As a spectator of a high class performance of one of his operas you begin to understand how powerfull he materialized his ideas of total theater (Gesamtkunstwerk) into superb entertainment. Engaging, multi-layered 19th century music theater that formed a major influence on all movie soundtracks that were about to follow in the 20th century and that still triggers both thoughts and emotions 150 years after their conception.