Wagner: Die Walküre - DVD

ENGLISH

Wagner: Die Walküre (OAMO6008D) (1999)<br /> <br /> John Keyes (Siegmund); Kurt Rydl (Hunding); John Bröcheler (Wotan); Nadine Secunde (Sieglinde); Jeannine Altmeyer (Brünnhilde); Rheinhild Runkel (Fricka); Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra; Harmut Haenchen<br /> <br /> Die Walküre is the second part of Richard Wagner's gargantuan tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen, concerning the irreconcilable struggle between Power and Love. The originality of this production from Het Muziektheater Amsterdam more than meets the perennial challenge of staging The Ring. Pierre Audi's stage direction, in which the orchestra is placed on the ring-shaped stage, succeeds in forging a profound unity between the lyrical, mythical and philosophical qualities of Wagner's work, complemented by George Tsypin's astonishing sets and wonderful costumes by Oscar-winning Eiko Ishioka. Impassioned singing, and intensely dramatic playing by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra under the energetic baton of Hartmut Haenchen create a vigorous, almost intimate performance that will leave an indelible impression. This production of The Ring is based on the new collected works of Richard Wagner.<br /> <br /> "Hartmut Haenchen builds on the New Wagner Edition and the Residentie Orchestra in outstanding form: a leaner, more elegant and never thundering Wagner sound makes this production a rich experience." (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung)<br /> <br /> "It is breathtaking to experience how well the technical and spatial possibilities of Het Muziektheater are being used; and even more overwhelming to see the focus on the individual in all this excitement. Het Muziektheater had a premiere without any equal..." (Het Financieële Dagblad)