Wagner Die Walküre

LA WALKYRIE, ONE OF THE GREAT GREAT GERMAN OPERAS'S BY WAGNER

Richard Wagner's La Walkyrie, which translates to The Valkyrie brings to the stage a beautiful story and stunning imagery of the Norse myths of the Valkyrie choosing which soldiers will live and die in battle.

This classic piece of German culture to hear live the iconic Ride of the Valkyrie, which is probably best known in popular culture as the theme of the helicopter pilots in the Hollywood movie, Apocalypse Now.

HISTORY

Based at the time of the Vikings, this opera by the great German composer is the second of the four operas in the classic Ring of the Nibelung series. The basis of the story of this series of operas tells the tale of the Norse hero Siegfried, explaining the story of the conception of the Norse hero and the romance between his parents.

Act 1

A raging storm forces Siegmund to take shelter in an unfamiliar house, where he is greeted by Sieglinde, the unhappy mistress of the home. Siegmund is obviously fleeing and decides to hide his identity behind the name Wehwalt. Sieglinde's husband, Hunding returns and prompts Siegmund to reveal the fact he is fleeing a group of pursuers. Hunding reveals he is one of those pursuing Siegmund and challenges him to battle the next morning. Sieglinde explains the tree in the centre of the room holds a sword left there by a mysterious old man. Siegmund removes the sword and realises it was left by his father and that Sieglinde is his twin sister.

Act 2

As act 2 begins the truth about the ancestry of Siegmund and Sieglinde is revealed as the Norse God Wotan explains to his Valkyrie daughter, Brunhilde that Siegmund and Sieglinde are his children. The conversation is interrupted by Fricka, Wotan's wife who is also the guardian of marriage, she tells Wotan that he must allow Siegmund to be killed as he has committed adultery and incest with his sister Sieglinde. Wotan interferes with the battle between Siegmund and Hunding, which ends with Siegmund's death.

Act 3

Brunhilde flees the scene of Siegmund's death with Sieglinde, whom she brings to the other Valkyrie, Brunhilde agrees to delay Wotan and let Sieglinde and her unborn child, Siegfried flee. Wotan arrives and decides that Brunhilde must be punished by death for her actions in disobeying him. Brunhilde pleads for her life and is held at the top of a mountain in a deep sleep until a hero wakes her with a kiss. Wotan makes the mountain difficult to access by allowing the God, Loge to create a ring of fire around the mountain.

MAIN ROLES

Siegmund, son of Wotan, tenor
Sieglinde, daughter of Wotan, soprano
Hunding, husband of Sieglinde, bass
Wotan, Norse God, bass-baritone
Fricka, Wotan's wife, mezzo-soprano
Brunhilde, Valkyrie, soprano