Talk:Das Rheingold/Comments

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It's quite difficult to rate this article, since much of the relevant material is actually in the three articles about the Ring. Taking what is dealt with there into account, my rating is B (though it might be better to summarise the detail in the Ring articles in the articles on the individual operas - see William Shakespeare for an example of this approach). Other suggestions for improvements:

  • Performance History: there is no "revised version" of 1876.
  • Roles: should show who the characters are, e.g. that Fricka is Wotan's wife
  • Arias, etc. should be shown in the synopsis with German first lines where appropriate
  • Recordings (in the Ring article) - more detail, and perhaps some weeding, is required. Maybe a separate page a la Flying Dutchman?

--GuillaumeTell 21:53, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

B class (66 points). I have 'credited' this article with the information in the three Ring articles (Der Ring des Nibelungen, Der Ring des Nibelungen: Composition of the text, Der Ring des Nibelungen: Composition of the music). (Obviously we don't want information spread and duplicated in different articles.) I agree with all GuillaumeTell's comments above. Specifically it would be good to have:

  • A section on the critical reaction to the opera
  • A full discography including historic recordings
  • Also, 'Noted excerpts' could be integrated into the synopsis.

-- Kleinzach 00:17, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

Low Start 35/100. I disagree with the above reviewers on fully crediting the contents of the other articles. WP:Summary makes it clear that a summary of the information should be included here as well as the more detailed analysis elsewhere.

  • Background/history of composition/discussion of plot and/or text, etc. 5/15: Most of these points are credited for the link to the composition articles. The detailed information belongs there, but I would expect at least start and end dates. The lead section is also meant to be a summary, so I would expect Rheingold's role in the Ring cycle as a whole to be mentioned, the satyr play concept and that it is distinguished from the other operas by having an exclusively supernatural cast.
  • Performance history, including recent performance history and creators of roles 5/15. I would expect discussion on how Ludwig put it on against Wagner's wishes and how often this opera gets performed outside the context of the Ring.
  • List of roles 4/5. Description of what the gods are gods of and who is whose sibling would improve this. I also suggest having one Vogl box spread over both columns.
  • Synopsis 7/10. No obvious gaps. But there is information here that really belongs in a music section and the key numbers should be highlighted here as commented above.
  • Notable arias etc. 3/5. I sould have expected Vollendet, das ewige Werk (or whatever the correct German is. to be included and maybe Alberich's song to the Nibelungs. I've got a box of early recordings of excerpts, so I'll see which bits are listed there. As indicated above, this list should be embeded in the synopsis.
  • Critical opinion/discussion of the music. 4/15 The former isn't really covered at all. I would expect a comment on how this opera is closest to the ideal of the music drama than some of the later Ring operas. Musical illustrations would also help.
  • Recordings 0/10 not mentioned. There are some recordings of Rheingold separate from complete cycles. I think in the long term, there may be a full discography of the Ring including separate operas, but something should be mentioned here.
  • Illustrations, including musical illustrations 4/10. It's good to have the Rackhams. However, I would suggest a picture of Wagner at the time he was working on the Ring and maybe pictures from the first production, e.g. the famous one of the Rheinmaidens on their machine. Musical illustrations of the opening of the prelude and the interlude with the anvils should be included and preferably other numbers too.
  • Inline references, notes, sources, external links 3/10. A start has been made on this . It is good to see a link to the vocal score, for example.

--Peter cohen 12:24, 18 September 2007 (UTC)