Out West Arts: Performance at the end of the world

Die Walküre set from Kirov Opera's 2003 Marinsky production.
Photo: Natasha Razina/Marinsky Theater 2003

Last night was the Die Walküre installment of the Kirov's Ring in the OC and things continue to heat up. The singing and playing were markedly better and the cast overall held together and were uniformly strong. Gergiev seemed to have things much more under control overall. Domingo sang Siegmund and, given the quality of his performance at his age, he should stand as an example for others in managing their careers and voices.

You be the judge

The crowd has been super enthusiastic throughout and, despite grumbling about the primitivist sets, seem to be very supportive. I rather like the staging myself, though the low-rent sci-fi stuff continues to be an issue with Hunding dressed as an ewok. Part of this may be the (now old) Segerstrom Hall which my companion Jeff ponted out does in fact create the feeling of being on Battlestar Galactica circa 1979.