Prom 15 - 23.07.13: Wagner – Die Walküre

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

5.00pm – c. 10.05pm
Royal Albert Hall

Wagner
Die Walküre (225 mins)
(concert performance; sung in German)

Bryn Terfel bass-baritone (Wotan)
Eric Halfvarson bass (Hunding)
Simon O'Neill tenor (Siegmund)
Anja Kampe soprano, Proms debut artist (Sieglinde)
Nina Stemme soprano (Brünnhilde)
Ekaterina Gubanova mezzo-soprano (Fricka)
Danielle Halbwachs soprano, Proms debut artist (Gerhilde)
Carola Höhn soprano, Proms debut artist (Ortlinde)
Ivonne Fuchs mezzo-soprano, Proms debut artist (Waltraute)
Anaïk Morel mezzo-soprano, Proms debut artist (Schwertleite)
Susan Foster soprano, Proms debut artist (Helmwige)
Leann Sandel-Pantaleo mezzo-soprano, Proms debut artist (Siegrune)
Anna Lapkovskaja mezzo-soprano, Proms debut artist (Grimgerde)
Simone Schröder mezzo-soprano, Proms debut artist (Rossweisse)
Staatskapelle Berlin
Daniel Barenboim conductor

Daniel Barenboim's Ring cycle with the Staatskapelle Berlin continues with part two, Die Walkure, and more mythical and psychological forces at large. The opera opens with a turbulent prologue depicting the terrible storm and devastating events including incest and adultery that are about to shake the characters. Siegmund has been asked by Wotan to help him acquire the ring, but blots his copybook by falling for his long-lost twin sister Sieglinde. This angers Fricka, Wotan's consort, so much that she demands Siegmund's death. Brunnhilde, Wotan's rebel daughter who we meet for the first time, tries to defend him, but in punishment she is put to sleep on a rock surrounded by fire. Die Walkure is considered perhaps the most accessible of the Ring cycle operas, and ends with the powerful Magic Fire Music

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think the best Prom I have ever attended was the last Walkure, with Pappano, Domingo, etc.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

From the point of view of the performers, it must be quite a chelleng to attempt Die Walkure just 20 hours after the completion of Das Rheingold.

[Prommer]

Yes, but tends to be the way it is always done: ie the four pieces are performed on a cycle of days 1, 2, 4 and 6... The difference here is actually the two rest days between Walkure and Siegfried.

This is the cast of the cycle I think. Bryn is being brought in to this one as Barenboim's Berlin Wotan Rene Pape clearly didn't want to do any of the Proms performances...

[An_Inspector_Calls]

Rene Pape was very weak in the Milan performance, a pity because the rest of the cast were excellent.

[Flosshilde]

Just checked the schedule for timings (so that I can plan dinner) & I see that the intervals are both just 20 minutes. Are prom concert audiences more resilient than 'ordinary' (dare I say normal?) audiences & not need a longer break for supper?

[Flosshilde]

No comments yet? I thought that Sieglinde was showing signs of strain at the end, but altogether very exciting. I'm hearing lot's more detail in the music than usual.

[RobertLeDiable]

As with Rheingold, it's utterly compelling. Fantastic playing and brilliantly cast. Terfel really inhabits that role like no-one else.

[BBMmk2]

I am listening now. First thoughts, without looking at the artists' names was Wotan, ah Bryn Terfel! He has it all!

[antongould]

As with Rheingold, it's utterly compelling. Fantastic playing and brilliantly cast. Terfel really inhabits that role like no-one else.

Yes very impressive it could almost tempt one to try! yet again, with RW....shame teamsaint isn't listening.....

[RobertLeDiable]

Just checked the schedule for timings (so that I can plan dinner) & I see that the intervals are both just 20 minutes. Are prom concert audiences more resilient than 'ordinary' (dare I say normal?) audiences & not need a longer break for supper?

I think it's the orchestra who should have longer breaks!

[Flosshilde]

could almost tempt one to try yet again with RW

Roger Wright?

Odd - I clicked on 'reply with quote' & the quote had a couple of extraneous punctuation marks not in the original.

[antongould]

Roger Wright?

Of course

[slarty]

It is very impressive so far and the BBC have reacted to the criticism of the Rheingold broadcast being too low. This is much more to their normal broadcast levels.

[Alison]

And yet I still find Barenboim very stylishly matter-of-fact.