Longborough Opera Festival 2012, Götterdämmerung: It only begins "when the fat lady sings"

"Brunnhilde at Longborough may have been awoken by Siegfried as Alywn Mellor but she shall redeem the world as..."

Inside LFO's  Opera House

Longborough Festival Opera (LFO) - also known as "the UKs Bayreuth" has announced its 2012 season. It should come as little surprise that 2012 will feature the final part of the Ring - given that the 2013 season will consist of the entire Ring Cycle - but Wagner is not all that they produce

Next season will also include productions of  Wagner's favourite Mozart opera, The Magic Flute,  and  Janáček's Katya Kabanova.

And what of Götterdämmerung? As you know, they normally only announce three performances of their Ring Cycle operas (a forth was added late this  year only due to high ticket demand) however for 2012 they have begun by announcing 4 performances - dates below. Although, given the popularity of Gotterdammerung perhaps this should come as little surprise. And when one adds the sort of reviews Siegfried earned...

Alas, there is no information from LFO about casting - except to confirm the fine Anthony Negus will continue  to conduct. We can only hope that Daniel Brenna will return as Siegfried - given the critical acclaim his performance received this season. And equally Nicholas Folwells’, wonderfully menacing Alberich - although none of this is confirmed on LFO's website. But who will sing "the fat lady"?.

Rachel Nicholls: Redeeming the world?

Longborough's Brünnhilde of  previous years will not be available in 2013. Instead,  Alywn Mellor will be Brünnhilde in Seattle's Ring Cycle that year. 2012 is  looking busy also, as she will be - among other roles - Opera North's Sieglinde in their ongoing Ring Cycle. So, who could possibly take over as LFOs Brunnhilde - especially given their  ability to put together such fine casts and find future international Wagnerians?

Well a little bird (although not of the forest variety) tells me that the "fat lady" for 2012 will be a soprano of whom the The Sunday Times described, only a few years ago, as “a future Brünnhilde"; someone who made her ROH debute  in Parsifal; someone who is presently singing as Sieglinde alongside the RHO's own 2012 Brunnhilde (Susan Bullock. And talk of synchronisity) at the St Endellion Festival and someone who is presently studying with that Wagnerian legend Dame Anne Evans.

Brunnhilde at Longborough may have been awoken by Siegfried as Alywn Mellor but she shall redeem the world as Rachel Nicholls. More about Rachel shortly.

  Rachel Nicholls: Handel: Orlando - Se mi rivolgo al prato

So, what are the dates for LFO's 2012 season? Glad you asked:


The Magic FluteWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Sung in Italian with English surtitles
16, 18, 19, 24, 25 June 2012
CONDUCTOR Gianluca Marciano
DIRECTOR Jenny Miller

Katya KabanovaLeoš Janáček

Sung in English
26, 27, 29, 30 June 2012
CONDUCTOR Jonathan Lyness
DIRECTOR Richard Studer


Götterdämmerung
Richard Wagner

Sung in German with English surtitles
17, 19, 22, 24 July 2012

CONDUCTOR Anthony Negus
DIRECTOR Alan Privett


More information as I get it.