Die Walküre

Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado
Director Robert Carsen, Oliver Klöter
Sets, Costumes Patrick Kinmonth
Lighting Manfred Voss
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Siegmund Stuart Skelton / Christopher Ventris
Hunding Günther Groissböck / Ain Anger
Wotan Tomasz Konieczny / James Rutherford
Sieglinde Adrianne Pieczonka / Elisabet Strid
Brünnhilde Ricarda Merbeth / Ingela Brimberg
Fricka Sarah Connolly / Daniela Sindram
Gerhilde Julie Davies
Ortlinde Samantha Crawford
Waltraute Sandra Ferrández
Schwertleite Bernadett Fodor
Helmwige Daniela Köhler
Siegrune Heike Grötzinger
Grimgerde Marifé Nogales
Rossweise Rosie Aldridge

After the presentation last season of Das Rheingold, prologue to the huge tetralogy by Richard Wagner, we now have the first day of The Valkyries, possible the opera which most faithfully adapts to the theoretic principles which the composer set forth in his book “Opera and Drama”.

Here, the powerful ring continues to be the object of desire and source of conflict, in addition to dictating the fate of both those who desire it and those who fear it. Not even the God Wotan is able to restrain his greed, and in his obsession to posses it, he destroys a large part of his family. It is only one chapter of a story, which, as well known, will carry on until the destruction of the world.

The Wagnerian characters bare their emotions by means of a music which is in perfect harmony with the text. By his tetralogy, he is able, -as almost no other can- awaken passions and polemics to the same degree.

At any rate, there is no doubt that by this means he fulfills his greatest desire to survive beyond life.