The second Wagner in Vermont festival ran 22nd-27th August 2022, with a week of Wagner-themed events bookended by two performances each of Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, as TUNDI created half a Ring Cycle at The Latchis Theatre, Brattleboro.
Relive all our 2022 festival events
Many of our festival events are now available to watch on video. Click or tap on the event you’d like to rewatch below for more information.
Critical Acclaim for Wagner in Vermont 2022
The emerging post-pandemic world is witnessing all kinds of artistic miracles but one of the most astonishing I've seen took place last week -- the resurrection of a wild, improbable idea that Richard Wagner's daunting operatic Ring cycle could be produced in the town of Brattleboro, Vermont (pop. 12,000).
Theatrical reawakening took place with two performances each of Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, two of the four Ring operas, in a semi-staged performance at Brattleboro's historic, ornate Latchis Theater.
They were produced by a new company called Tundi Productions, the brainchild of conductor Hugh Keelan and soprano Jenna Rae, who are married.
With accompaniment by highly-skilled local orchestra players conducted with verve and finesse by Keelan, a company of professional opera singers threw their hearts into the work, communicating with dynamic beauty the essence of Wagner's deeply-felt insight into men, women and the gods of legend.
There were excellent costumes, minimal stage furnishings and props, and video effects and surtitles on a scrim between the upstage orchestra and the downstage playing area. The focus was on the music. […]
The two Ring operas again featured top-notch singers, with Rae as a passionate Brunnhilde, Cailin Marcel Manson as a dignified Wotan (the supreme god), Sondra Kelly as Wotan's wronged wife Fricka, Brian Ember as a riveting Alberich (the resentful dwarf who steals the Rhine gold) -- but it's difficult to single out particular cast members, as the entire ensemble was very strong. Veda Crewe and Todd Lyon are credited in the program with costume design and I was particularly taken with Crewe's costumes for the giants, Fafner and Fasolt, who build Valhalla for Wotan. They looked like living columns of rock. […]
I liked such staging delights as the three Rhinemaidens swirling strings of green lighted cords to symbolize the river's waves and the Valkyries using the balcony and side levels of the theater to join in their "ho jo to ho" battle call. With the orchestra driving the "Ride of the Valkyries" and eight sopranos, playing swaggering, badass women flying on magic horses, in full throat, the effect was absolutely thrilling. If Tundi can come out of a two-year pandemic pause with such vigor, then its future remains bright. A Ring cycle in maple syrup country? Sign me up!
Aug 31, 2022; Solange on Theatre - Solange DeSantis
Das Rheingold Cast
Das Rheingold Covers
Die Walküre Cast
Die Walküre Covers
Festival Orchestra 2022
MUSICAL DIRECTOR - Hugh Keelan
CONCERT MASTER - Mary Beth Woodruff
VIOLIN - Mary Beth Woodruff, Isaac Kay, Sarah Briggs, Sabine Vener, Noemi Miloradović, Mike Winer, Hazel Keelan, Carl Larson
VIOLA - Carson Rick, Anton Boutkov, Lucy Prichard, Ken Allen
CELLO - Jakub Omsky, Gregory Wood, Pedro Pereira
BASS - Spencer Phillips, Evan Runyon
FLUTE / PICCOLO - Robin Matathias, Rebecca Sayles
OBOE / ENGLISH HORN - Abigail Haines, Jim Sharrock
CLARINET / BASS CLARINET - Eric Thomas, Stephanie Jenkins, Timothy Young
BASSOON - Diane Lipartito, Monica Schwartz
HORN - Paul Hadley, Peter Guidi, Sarah Perrin
TRUMPET - Dan Farina
TROMBONE - Caroline Cole, Kristoffer Danielsen, John T. Hart
TUBA - Susan Lemei
PERCUSSION - Rocio Mora, Andrew Armstrong
KEYBOARD - Jerry Noble
FESTIVAL PIANIST - Vladimir Odinokikh
Design Teams
The Design Team is TUNDI's answer to artistic direction that is a reflection of the whole community. We serve as creators and contributors and representatives for the greater TUNDI community. Tap the images for more information.
CREATORS OF THE WORLDS
THE FABRIC OF THE UNIVERSE
THE SHAPESHIFTERS
THE MESSENGERS
Special Thanks
The Wagner in Vermont Festival 2022 would not have been possible without the support of some very important people, including:
Hugh Keelan - For musical direction, re-orchestration, supertitle translations
Jenna Rae - For company management, costume design and creation, and innumerable other things
Angus Reid - For videography and technical support
Cornelia and Wallis Reid - For all their support
Todd Lyon - For designing and creating Alberich’s costumes
Veda Crewe - For costume alterations and creating the giant’s costumes
Michael Mayer - For assisting with giant’s club creation
Kirk Eichelberger - For assisting with set and stage building and giant’s club creation
Peter Wilson - For being our Latchis Theatre liaison and lighting coordinator
Peter Gibbons - For providing equipment transportation
Host Families - For welcoming and caring for our people
Lesley Cotter - For acting as our cast housing coordinator
BMAC - For providing flashmob space
The Latchis Theatre - For the space to perform