The 2010 La Scala Das Rheingold was very impressive and was a really promising start to the La Scala Ring Cycle. Die Walkure is just as impressive and actually even better, you do miss the brilliant performance of Alberich but I got a little more out of the staging and character interactions here. More could have been done with the Magic Fire scene, musically it was spectacular in every way possible but the scene did look a touch under-budgeted and not quite as epic as it could have been. That is it for the personal complaints though.
The production is great to look at with the sets for each act and sets distinct and coherent while also maintaining the mythical quality of the story. The Act 2 forest setting was particularly good and the lighting was both striking and clever, in keeping with the personalities and emotions of the characters. The costumes are not traditional but are good-looking and flattering and on the most part there is a sense that you know the time and place, only in the period gowns for the Valkyries is there a hint of uncertainty in this regard. There is nothing to complain staging-wise otherwise, Ride of the Valkyries is mind-blowing and grand in spectacle while never being overblown. Of a scene that has been done badly on a lot of the productions on DVD for Die Walkure, the rendition here was by far and away one of the best. And the interactions between the singers is totally believable throughout. You can tell how Sieglinde is genuinely terrified of Hunding and the father-daughter relationship between Wotan and Brunnhilde actually feels like one, but the big surprise was between Siegmund and Sieglinde, the feelings of despair and hope are evident and in an affecting way at the beginning of Act 2. The projections in Ride of the Valkyries of the dead warriors and horses have a stunning and harrowing effect.
Musically, very like Das Rheingold the production of Die Walkure fares even better than the visuals and staging, considering how great they were that just goes to show how brilliantly this production fared musically. Wagner's peerless music, with the most recognisable tunes of the entire Ring Cycle, is a big part of it but the playing, singing and conducting play just as large a part. The orchestra show the right amount of delicacy and force, like in Wotan's Act 2 monologue and Wotan's Farewell(or Abschied in German). The beginning of Act 2 is exciting and touching and Ride of the Valkyries is just grand, throughout the textures, dynamic contrasts, intensity and nuances make for some thrilling playing. And Daniel Barenboim's conducting accentuates that, Barenboim literally feels the music in his bones and has the ability to make the music forceful and beautiful, he is very sympathetic towards the singers yet never loses the momentum or vitality of the music or the lyricism and ecstatic rapture. Act 2 Scene 4 is particularly telling, visuals, singing, character interactions, staging and music ignite for this critical and emotional scene and it creates a rather profound effect.
Of the performances, top honours go to Nina Stemme, her huge dark voice devoid of the wobble or curdle that can elude a fair few in the role but with the high points losing none of the ring and power that they should. Interpretation-wise Stemme is completely fearless, and appearance-wise she couldn't be more different to "the fat lady sings" stereotype(one I dislike as well) that has been associated with Brunnhilde. Credit should also go to John Tomlinson and Waltraud Meier, that they may be long in the tooth does not matter because both show real experience and professionalism as Hunding and Sieglinde with their 20+ years experience in Wagner showing clearly. You'd be hard pressed to find a more brutal Hunding on DVD than Tomlinson, whose voice still sounds rich even with a looser vibrato at times and there is a dark quality that is perfect for the role as well. Meier looks and sounds radiant, her voice having much delicacy and force and while Jeanine Altmeyer is the best Sieglinde on DVD(personal opinion) Meier is very moving. Simon O'Neill is a heroic and noble Siegmund and is in very good and ardent voice apart from the start of Act 1 where he's a little hoarse, while Vitalij Kowaljow is an authoritative and firmly voiced Wotan and Ekaterina Gubanova has a fine voice and shows some of the best acting of the production as Fricka, she's only in one scene but Fricka's anger and emotions tower here. The Valkyries are very good.
All in all, after a promising Das Rheingold, this Die Walkure is another winner and is even better actually. Here's to hoping that Siegfriend and Gotterdammerung are as good. 9/10 Bethany Cox
The production is great to look at with the sets for each act and sets distinct and coherent while also maintaining the mythical quality of the story. The Act 2 forest setting was particularly good and the lighting was both striking and clever, in keeping with the personalities and emotions of the characters. The costumes are not traditional but are good-looking and flattering and on the most part there is a sense that you know the time and place, only in the period gowns for the Valkyries is there a hint of uncertainty in this regard. There is nothing to complain staging-wise otherwise, Ride of the Valkyries is mind-blowing and grand in spectacle while never being overblown. Of a scene that has been done badly on a lot of the productions on DVD for Die Walkure, the rendition here was by far and away one of the best. And the interactions between the singers is totally believable throughout. You can tell how Sieglinde is genuinely terrified of Hunding and the father-daughter relationship between Wotan and Brunnhilde actually feels like one, but the big surprise was between Siegmund and Sieglinde, the feelings of despair and hope are evident and in an affecting way at the beginning of Act 2. The projections in Ride of the Valkyries of the dead warriors and horses have a stunning and harrowing effect.
Musically, very like Das Rheingold the production of Die Walkure fares even better than the visuals and staging, considering how great they were that just goes to show how brilliantly this production fared musically. Wagner's peerless music, with the most recognisable tunes of the entire Ring Cycle, is a big part of it but the playing, singing and conducting play just as large a part. The orchestra show the right amount of delicacy and force, like in Wotan's Act 2 monologue and Wotan's Farewell(or Abschied in German). The beginning of Act 2 is exciting and touching and Ride of the Valkyries is just grand, throughout the textures, dynamic contrasts, intensity and nuances make for some thrilling playing. And Daniel Barenboim's conducting accentuates that, Barenboim literally feels the music in his bones and has the ability to make the music forceful and beautiful, he is very sympathetic towards the singers yet never loses the momentum or vitality of the music or the lyricism and ecstatic rapture. Act 2 Scene 4 is particularly telling, visuals, singing, character interactions, staging and music ignite for this critical and emotional scene and it creates a rather profound effect.
Of the performances, top honours go to Nina Stemme, her huge dark voice devoid of the wobble or curdle that can elude a fair few in the role but with the high points losing none of the ring and power that they should. Interpretation-wise Stemme is completely fearless, and appearance-wise she couldn't be more different to "the fat lady sings" stereotype(one I dislike as well) that has been associated with Brunnhilde. Credit should also go to John Tomlinson and Waltraud Meier, that they may be long in the tooth does not matter because both show real experience and professionalism as Hunding and Sieglinde with their 20+ years experience in Wagner showing clearly. You'd be hard pressed to find a more brutal Hunding on DVD than Tomlinson, whose voice still sounds rich even with a looser vibrato at times and there is a dark quality that is perfect for the role as well. Meier looks and sounds radiant, her voice having much delicacy and force and while Jeanine Altmeyer is the best Sieglinde on DVD(personal opinion) Meier is very moving. Simon O'Neill is a heroic and noble Siegmund and is in very good and ardent voice apart from the start of Act 1 where he's a little hoarse, while Vitalij Kowaljow is an authoritative and firmly voiced Wotan and Ekaterina Gubanova has a fine voice and shows some of the best acting of the production as Fricka, she's only in one scene but Fricka's anger and emotions tower here. The Valkyries are very good.
All in all, after a promising Das Rheingold, this Die Walkure is another winner and is even better actually. Here's to hoping that Siegfriend and Gotterdammerung are as good. 9/10 Bethany Cox
