Reenactment of Wagner's Solo Reading Performance of "Rheingold"

Abstract

In the context of the knowledge transfer project "Wagnergesang im 21. Jahrhundert - historisch informiert" (Wagner singing in the 21st century - historically informed) at the Research Institute for Music Theatre (fimt) of the University of Bayreuth, which aims at a historically informed performance of Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen (musical director: Kent Nagano) by using methods of artistic research. A solo reading performance of the complete Rheingold libretto was performed, as Wagner himself performed it several times as a preliminary stage of the premiere. The performer Amélie Haller took over Wagner's part and performed all 14 roles of Rheingold (goddesses and gods, giants, Nibelungs, Rhinemaidens) in a 105-minute performance. This reenactment drew on research into historical pronunciation, facial expressions, and gestures. The pure text performance, which hides the semiotic system of Wagner's music, makes it possible to focus on new aspects of reception and to answer research questions that would be pushed into the background in a concert or fully staged performance. In addition to the performance, which was also received as an independent work of art in the specialist press, the artistic research yielded results on several complexes of questions, which will be further processed within the framework of the research project. The method provided answers to questions in the following areas: Performance tempos, language design and melodic line, role interpretation, problems at the 1876 premiere with practical stage implementation (stage design and special effects), image of women shown, antisemitism inscribed in the work. The digital essay documents the principles, methodology and results of the reenactment by means of written evaluation and thematically structured video excerpts. In addition, a complete recording of the performance is available.