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Wagner 200

Live from the Royal Festival Hall in London
Presented by Martin Handley.

Sir Andrew Davis conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra in a concert commemorating the exact 200th anniversary of Wagner's birth.

Wagner Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)

Wagner Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde
Susan Bullock (soprano), Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)

c. 8.00pm
Interval Music

c. 8.20pm
The Walküre (or Valkyries) are an army of maidens who ride through the air on horseback. The twin brother and sister, Siegmund and Sieglinde, have fallen in love, thereby committing both adultery and incest. Siegmund is killed by the leader of the gods, Wotan, although Brünnhilde (Wotan's favourite Valkyrie daughter) saves Sieglinde in the nick of time. After this, the Third Act begins with the famous Ride of the Valkyries and reaches a blazing climax when Brünnhilde is punished by Wotan. Wotan bids farewell to Brünnhilde and surrounds her with a ring of fire that can only be crossed by a fearless hero; that hero is destined to be none other than Sieglinde's eventual son, Siegfried.

Wagner Die Walküre, Act 3

Sieglinde.... Giselle Allen (soprano),
Wotan..... James Rutherford (bass),
The Valkyries:
Brünnhilde.... Susan Bullock (soprano),
Gerhilde..... Mariya Krywaniuk (soprano),
Waltraute..... Jennifer Johnston (mezzo soprano),
Schwertleite..... Miriam Sharrad (contralto),
Helmwige..... Katherine Broderick (soprano),
Siegrune..... Magdalen Ashman (mezzo soprano),
Grimgerde..... Antonia Sotgiu (mezzo soprano),
Rossweisse..... Maria Jones (mezzo soprano),
Ortlinde..... Elaine McKrill (soprano)

Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor).