Siegfried Wagner, son of Richard, wrote operas that could be characterized both as "Wagner lite" and "heavy Wagner," the music being a lite version of that in his father's operas, but with heavier plots. That deadly combination accounts for the operas' current obscurity, as well as their tepid reception during their composer's lifetime. Siegfried was an entirely competent composer, whose failings were a lack of originality and an inability to breathe much freshness into the forms he sought to emulate, although some moments are undeniably lovely. As a dramatist, however, he was entirely inept. The scenario of Rainulf und Adelasia (1922), a reworking of Norman history and legend (and which includes plenty of autobiographical allegory concerning his relationships with his mother and siblings), is an utterly incomprehensible jumble. There is enough musical substance here, however, for the work to be of interest to Wagnerians willing to ignore the dramaturgy of the opera.
The live performance on this CPO release is more than respectable and probably makes as strong a case as possible for the work. Conductor
Werner Andreas Albert has assembled a first-rate cast, whose singers perform with security and tonal beauty, and whose interpretations are earnest and impassioned. The playing of the
Staatsphilharmonic Rheinland-Pfalz is comparably committed and professional. The sound is clear, but the balance slightly favors the singers over the orchestra.