Wagner: Die Walküre
The Madness of an Extraordinary Plan
15 - 16 July 2011
The Bridgewater Hall
Following their 2009 presentation of Götterdämmerung, which ended with a 15- minute standing ovation, Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé returned to Wagner’s Ring Cycle for MIF11 with a concert version of Die Walküre. This most enduring of operas was performed over two nights at The Bridgewater Hall, which has arguably the UK’s finest orchestral acoustic.
MIF also commissioned Gerard McBurney to create The Madness of an Extraordinary Plan, a new dramatic prologue to Die Walküre. Sir Mark Elder led the Hallé and three actors in a guide to Richard Wagner’s revolutionary reinvention of the musical language of opera. This proved to be an illuminating experience for Wagner afficionados and newcomers alike. Directed by Neil Bartlett.
We are delighted to be working with Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé as they embark on the next part of their Ring Cycle at The Bridgewater Hall. The supporting prologue gives the Festival the opportunity to continue the project we began with The Pianist in 2007 and followed with JS Bach / Zaha Hadid Architects in 2009 – creating new contexts for great works of the past. Alex Poots, Festival Director
Die Walküre is sung in German with English surtitles.
Die Walküre
Conductor Sir Mark Elder
Siegmund Stig Andersen
Sieglinde Petra Maria Schnitzer
Hunding Clive Bayley
Wotan Egils Silins
Brünnhilde Susan Bullock
Fricka Susan Bickley
Gerhilde Miranda Keys
Ortlinde Yvonne Howard
Waltraute Sarah Castle*
Schwertleite Linda Finnie
Helmwige Katherine Broderick
Siegrune Alison Kettlewell
Grimgerde Ceri Williams
Rossweisse Leah-Marian Jones
*We are grateful to Sarah Castle for replacing Madeleine Shaw who has had to withdraw.
The Madness of an Extraordinary Plan
Richard Wagner Roger Allam
Chorus Deborah Findlay & Sara Kestelman
| Writer | Gerard McBurney |
| Director | Neil Bartlett |
| Conductor | Sir Mark Elder |
| Orchestra | The Hallé |
Cast
Richard Wagner Roger Allam
Chorus Deborah Findlay & Sara Kestleman
Credits
Commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival, The Hallé and The Bridgewater Hall
