Simone Young conducts Die Walküre
The Ring Cycle in Concert
Chief Conductor Simone Young leads an all-star cast in Richard Wagner’s vast, spectacular drama Die Walküre, the second instalment of his epic four-opera Ring Cycle.
Duration
The concert will end at approximately 11:30pm (Friday) and 7:30pm (Saturday). This performance will have a strict lockout through Act 1, Act 2 and Act 3.
Intervals
Due to the duration of this concert, there will be two intervals. After Act 1 there will be a 60 minute interval and after Act 2 there will be a 30 minute interval.
Pre-Concert
Join us for the pre-concert talk 45 minutes before the performance in Lounge level of the Northern Foyer, by David Larkin.
CONCERT GUIDE
Behind every great piece is a great story. Have a read through the concert guide to get all the details.
A merciless storm rages over Wotan’s kingdom as his son Siegmund is pursued by brutal enemies.
Presented in concert in a pure musical experience, Simone Young and the Orchestra’s superb mastery of Wagner’s extraordinary musical creation will be one of the year’s most powerful moments.
A high point of artistic invention, Wagner’s Ring Cycle is one of the greatest works of music. Its drama and energy are captured by its signature moment The Ride of the Valkyries, which has become the most quoted musical passage from the entire world of opera. It is surrounded by writing of ravishing beauty and intensity which captures Brünnhilde’s bold defiance, Wotan’s shuddering wrath and Siegmund’s heroism.
These performances provide the perfect platform for world-class soloists including Australian Stuart Skelton; Anja Kampe, Peter Rose and Alexandra Ionis, stars of the Berlin Staatsoper and Vienna Staatsoper; and Tommi Hakala, a brilliant new Wotan for the world stage.
Joining these distinguished artists is a stellar cast including Lithuanian-born soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė and Australian luminaries including Deborah Humble and Helena Dix.
Wagner’s epic legend was written for huge orchestral forces to produce an enormous, astonishing sound and create the 'total work of art'. Performed in Sydney for the first time in twenty-five years, Die Walküre is a musical triumph that you won’t want to miss.
Program
WAGNER Die Walküre
Artists
SIMONE YOUNG conductor
ANJA KAMPE Brünnhilde
TOMMI HAKALA Wotan
VIDA MIKNEVIČIŪTĖ Sieglinde
STUART SKELTON Siegmund
PETER ROSE Hunding
ALEXANDRA IONIS Fricka
HELENA DIX Helmwige
MADELEINE PIERARD Gerhilde
NATALIE AROYAN Ortlinde
DEBORAH HUMBLE Waltraute
MARGARET PLUMMER Siegrune
KRISTIN DARRAGH Grimgerde
ALEXANDRA IONIS Rossweisse
LIANE KEEGAN Schwertleite