Saturday, October 10, 2020

Metropolitan Opera at Home – Wagner’s Die Walkure. October 8, 2020.

Original performance date – April 8, 1989.

Conductor – James Levine; Brunnhilde – Hildegard Behrens, Wotan – James Morris, Sieglinde – Jessye Norman, Fricka – Christa Ludwig, Siegmund – Gary Lakes, Hunding – Kurt Moll, Helmwige – Katarina Ikonomu, Orlinde – Martha Thigpen, Gerhilde – Pyramid Sellers, Waltrude – Joyce Castle, Siegrune – Diane Kesling, Rossweisse -Jacalyn Bower, Grimgerde – Wendy Hillhouse, Schwertleite – Sondra Kelly. 

Production - Otto Schenk, Set & Projection Design - Gunther Schneider-Siemssen

This was the first time I saw Jessye Norman - whose name is well-known in the music world - in concert, one recorded over 30 years ago.  Both Norman and Behrens died in their early 70s, and evidently the Ring set fell on Behrens (she hurt her spinal cord, but recovered).

The four operas being broadcast were not from the same cycle.  This one was a year earlier than the other three.  We will find out if the main characters were the same.

Screen shots of TV:







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