The Wagner Society of London's "An Evening with Simon O'Neill" becomes "An Evening with Rachel Nicholls", on October 17, as Simon O'Neill withdraws due to "health concerns" Whether he will still be able to make his performance in Walküre the following day at the ROH , is as yet unconfirmedNot only will Rachel save the day on the 17th but on the 21 October she also sings Brünnhilde in Die Walküre Act 3 with James Rutherford as Wotan, conducted by David Syrus at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama - also for the Wagner Society London.
If you haven't heard Rachel in Wagner previously you can do so by clicking play below. You can also read The Wagnerian's interview with her early this year by clicking here. We would suggest that this might be a night you should not now miss.
Of Rachel, who steps in at the last minute, Paul Dawson-Bowling, of the Wagner Society recently said:
"Rachel Nicholls is an incredible find as Brünnhilde, possessed of a beautiful voice and a musical intelligence of a very high order, perhaps a legacy of her background of JS Bach. She is radiantly secure above the stave; her high C at the end of the prologue was ecstatic, and she absolutely the stamina for the panegyric of her Immolation." Wagner News. Review, Götterdämmerung. LFO 2012
As for next season, she not only returns to Longborough next Summer to sing three complete cycles as Brünnhilde, but her engagements also include, Euridice in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice on tour with the Israel Camerata, Senta in Der fliegende Holländer with Scottish Opera and Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
For further details - and tickets - for the two Wagner Society events please visit: An Evening With Rachel Nicholls
