Opera of the Week tonight… Die Walküre from Longborough Festival Opera
OperaLongborough Festival Opera’s critically acclaimed Der Ring des Nibelungen continues with Die Walküre, the second opera in the Ring Cycle. The Guardian review wrote that it ‘brought bonuses from a stellar cast and the profound musicianship of Anthony Negus’. It is a semi-staged production by Amy Lane. Slippedisc brings this opera to you courtesy of OperaVision.
The predominantly British cast shows several generations of great Wagnerian singers at their best. Siegmund sung by Peter Wedd, Sieglinde by Sarah Marie Kramer, Wotan by Paul Carey Jones, Fricka by Madeline Shaw and Brunnhilde by Lee Bisset.
Sung in German. Subtitles are available in English
Available tonight Friday 12 November 2021 at 19.00 CET, 18.00 London 13.00 NY
Apart from knowing the Ring Cycle inside out, conductor Anthony Negus is a generous and charming fellow, who, with his partner Carmen, encourages grass roots singing here in Birmingham as well as Cardiff. I have benefited from his patience, expertise and kindness. I understand he will be conducting one of ENO’s performances of The Valkyrie shortly.
Yes, many of us have booked that one performance! 7th December. He has been coaching the singers too.
What do you think about the level of the orchestra performance? The few minutes into the start of the Walkure I cannot feel the energy the drive the tension but the orchestra performs without much confidence and cohesiveness. Is it worth the time watching it or rather an existing ring cycle on stream such as Daniel Barenboim’s?