Never before has the momentous Wagner opera The Valkyrie (Die Walküre) been performed in concert with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
An international stellar cast of singers and full symphony orchestra,
featuring more than 100 musicians, will join forces this July to bring
you the ground-breaking music of Richard Wagner’s epic music drama – The Valkyrie (Die Walküre).
Full of love, abandonment, infidelity, and incest, The Valkyrie is the second of four operas that form the cycle The Ring of the Nibelung (Der Ring des Nibelungen).
Helden baritone John Wegner is no stranger to the role
of Wotan, King of the gods, with an impressive six seasons at Bayreuth
Festival – the spiritual home of Wagner’s music. He finds his match in
the dramatic prowess of Margaret Medlyn’s Fricka. Internationally-renowned Wagnerian tenor Simon O’Neill returns
home to sing the demanding role of Siegmund – one he has already
performed at the Royal Opera House and La Scala - and the exquisite
soprano Edith Haller is Sieglinde, who was first heard in this role at
the 2010 Bayreuth Festival. Dramatic soprano superstar, and prestigious
Richard Tucker award recipient, Christine Goerke will be an indomitable
force singing the role of Brünnhilde, and in the role of Hunding is
another shining star – the charismatic New Zealander Jonathan Lemalu,
whose rich, resonant bass makes him an audience favourite.
Supported by an astounding hoard of eight “Valkiwis” (Valkyries who are
all Kiwis), and backed by a super-sized New Zealand Symphony Orchestra,
including three harps, four French Horns, four Wagner Tubas, a
contrabass trombone, bass trumpet, steerhorn, and even a thunder
machine, this extraordinary musical event, conducted by critically
acclaimed Music Director Pietari Inkinen, will be cherished and
remembered for years to come.
Wagner’s epic tale of gods and men will grab you by the horns and not
let you go. Well, not for five hours and 40 minutes that is (including
two intervals). So book your meals with us, bring a cushion, escape from
the cold, and prepare for an unforgettable musical memory with the
NZSO.
You simply can’t miss this rare opportunity to hear the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in The Valkyrie, with support from the Wagner Society of New Zealand and the Wagner New Zealand Foundation.
Renowned New Zealand bass-baritone Roger Wilson will give a free
30-minute talk in all three centres, 45-minutes prior to each
performance. For more details about each NZSO pre-concert talk, visit www.nzso.co.nz/talks
NZSO The Valkyrie (Die Walküre)
An opera in three acts sung in German with English surtitles
Stellar International Cast
With support from the Wagner Society of New Zealand and the Wagner New Zealand Foundation
PIETARI INKINEN Conductor
SIMON O’NEILL Siegmund
EDITH HALLER Sieglinde
CHRISTINE GOERKE Brünnhilde
JOHN WEGNER Wotan
JONATHAN LEMALU Hunding
MARGARET MEDLYN Fricka
The “Valkiwis” (Valkyries):
Morag Atchison, Amanda Atlas, Sarah Castle, Kristen Darragh, Wendy Doyle, Lisa Harper-Brown, Anna Pierard, Kate Spence.
