Listen: The Ring, Politics and Power
Michael Portillo, Matthew d’Ancona and Martin Kettle look at Wagner’s masterwork as a political analogy.
Themes of politics and power in relation to The Ring Cycle were explored at a recent ROH Insights session. Participating in the discussion were former Conservative minister Michael Portillo, political columnist Matthew d’Ancona and Assistant Editor of the Guardian Martin Kettle.
Chairing the session, BBC Radio 4’s Ritula Shah asked the trio about the character of Wotan, viewing the cycle as a reflection of political ideology, and the misappropriation and misunderstanding of Wagner’s work by the Nazis.
Looking at the work through a prism of politics, Martin Kettle commented that he believed “In some sense Wotan is a dictator. He’s very recognizable politically”. Matthew d’Ancona added that the character reminds him of a remark by Bill Clinton: “Anyone in office will pay a huge price”. Michael Portillo also refuted the idea that the work is a hymn to power: “How the Nazis picked up on The Ring is puzzling – everyone who holds power in it is destroyed.”
Listen to highlights of the event:
This session is one of a number of events on The Ring Cycle. Upcoming events on themes of nature, love and redemption will be live-tweeted during sessions with highlights available online afterwards.
What is is with th beeb and its love affair with that bore
Portillo ?
He should be put back on his endless train journey where he can bore unfortunate passengers.
the sight of his participation in the discussion was
sufficient to stop me listening,but I would like to have
heard the views of other Wagner nuts.
Hi Alan
We aren't the BBC and we were delighted to have Michael Portillo join us for this Insights session. Have a listen - you may be surprised by how interesting his contribution is.
Best wishes
Ellen
More production pics,please
Can you please tell me the significance of the red rope in the staging of this Ring cycle.
I wish Opus Arte/ROH would release the video recording of the cycle on DVD
Seconded, and also on behalf of my husband Hal & mum Kim as well. Any chance of this ever happening?
The red rope is explicitly the rope of fate which is woven by the Norns, but its polyvalent idea. It actually reminded me of the red tape in Peter Hall's production of Oh What a Lovely War, and it works in a similar way. It emphasises the way in which apparently unrelated events are joined and contribute to the gathering momentum of destruction which is is unleashed as soon as the gold is taken from the Rhine.