Mythic Mash-Up: Roland Matthews finds La Scala’s ‘Götterdämmerung’ to be a mixed affair

Review of Götterdämmerung, directed McVicar, conducted Soddy, Milan, 2026.

July 2026, Volume 20, Number 2, 86–8.

While the Milan air was filled with pre-Winter Olympics fever the focus at La Scala was on one ring rather than five, as it unveiled the final instalment of its new Ring cycle. David McVicar’s production had a troubled birth when, barely two months before Das Rheingold opened in November 2024, conductor Christian Thielemann withdrew, citing health issues and concerns about the theatre’s administration. A hastily contrived resolution saw two conductors, Simone Young and Alexander Soddy, sharing podium duties throughout the project.