Near perfect casting

The casting of this performance is really outstanding. Graham Clark must be the definitive Mime. John Tomlinson is a magesterial Wanderer. And of course Siegfried Jerusalem is brilliant as always. He is a true heldentenor, powerful and tireless. He also looks heroic. Ann Evans really throws heself into the role and carries it off with aplomb. The settings, of course, in accordance with current Bayreuth practice, are overwrought, pretentious and largely incongruous. Perhaps one day, a European director will come along with the integrity and courage to put aside their own ego and produce an opera of which Wagner would approve but I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime, enjoy this production for the superb singing, outstanding acting and the superb Barenboim conducting and as usual, try the ignore the rather ludicrous Kupfer contributions.