Organization

Singer

Soprano

Claire Rutter

Sieglinde

Mezzo-soprano

Sigríður Ósk Kristjánsdóttir

Waltraute

Lilja Guðmundsdóttir

Helmwige

Tenor

Christopher Ventris

Siegmund

Iréne Theorin

Brünnhilde

Bass

Kristinn Sigmundsson

Hunding

Jamie Barton

Fricka

Sigrún Pálmadóttir

Gerhilde

Margrét Hrafnsdóttir

Ortlinde

Contralto

Svanhildur Rósa Pálmadóttir

Schwertleite

Agnes Thorsteins

Siegrune

Hildigunnur Einarsdóttir

Grimgerde

Guja Sandholt

Rossweisse

Stage director

Julia Burbach

Tal Rosner

Conductor

Eva Ollikainen

Costume designer

Clémence Pernoud

Video designer

Baritone

Olafur Sigurdarson

Wotan

Islenska Operan

Orchestra

Iceland Symphony Orchestra

German

Die Walküre -  (The Valkyrie)

Reykjavík

Iceland

Harpa Concert Hall

Public

The Valkyrie

Approved

Die Walküre Wagner,Richard

Richard's Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung is without doubt one of the most ambitious operatic works in the history of Western music. It comprises four separate operas, which Wagner based not only on the German Nibelungenlied but also on the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, and Völsunga Saga, which he had in German translation. He worked for a quarter-century on the Ring cycle, which puts his genius as composer and librettist on full display.

The story line of The Valkyrie comes largely from Völsunga Saga. A tempest is raging, and Siegmund seeks shelter in the home of Sieglinde and her husband, Hunding. He and Sieglinde fall in love, and the Valkyrie Brünnhilde, daughter of Wotan, disobeys her father by helping Siegmund in his bid to fight a duel with Hunding. Wotan punishes her by stripping her of her divine status as a Valkyrie, transforming her into a mortal woman. He condemns her to lie sleeping on the mountain surrounded by flames until an intrepid hero awakens her with a kiss. 
This opulent musical drama is one of the masterpieces of the 19th century, and the famous Ride of the Valkyries is well known to most music lovers. This is the first time The Valkyrie has been performed in its entirety in Iceland and the first time since 2002 that a full Wagner opera has been programmed. Soprano Christine Goerke sings Brünnhilde, a role she has sung at the Metropolitan Opera among other venues. Wotan is sung by Ólafur Kjartan Sigurðarson, and the Valkyries are performed by a stunning group of Icelandic singers. 
The orchestra is conducted by Eva Ollikainen, newly appointed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. The opera director, Julia Burbach, is on the permanent staff at London's Covent Garden. Tal Rosner is a BAFTA-winning video designer and director who has worked at the National Theatre in London and Lincoln Center in New York.

English

Niflungahringur Richards Wagner er án nokkurs vafa ein metnaðarfyllsta ópera sem fyrirfinnst í tónlistarsögunni. Fjórar óperur mynda verkið og við smíði sögunnar sótti Wagner ekki aðeins efni í hið þýska Niflungaljóð, heldur einnig Eddukvæði, Snorra-Eddu og Völsunga sögu sem hann átti í fórum sínum í þýskri þýðingu. Hann vann að verkinu í um aldarfjórðung og hér fékk gáfa hans bæði sem tónskáld og textahöfundur að njóta sín til fulls.

Efnisþráður Valkyrjunnar er að miklu leyti sóttur í Völsunga sögu. Fárviðri geisar og Siegmund leitar skjóls í húsi Sieglinde og manns hennar, Hundings. Þau Sieglinde fella hugi saman og valkyrjan Brynhildur, dóttir Óðins, óhlýðnast föður sínum með því að liðsinna Sigmundi þar sem hann heyr einvígi við Hunding. Óðinn refsar henni með því að svipta hana guðdómleikanum, breytir henni í mennska konu sem skal liggja sofandi á bjarginu umvafin vafurlogum og ekki vakna fyrr en mikil hetja fær sigrast á logunum og vakið hana með kossi.

Þessi magnaða ópera er eitt af helstu meistaraverkum tónlistar á 19. öld og Valkyrjureiðin fræga er flestum kunn. Þetta mun vera í fyrsta sinn sem Valkyrjan er sett upp á Íslandi.

Sópransöngkonan Iréne Theorin sem fer með hlutverk Brynhildar hefur sungið hlutverkið m.a. við Staatsoper Berlin undir stjórn Daniels Barenboim. Leikstjórinn Julia Burbach er fastráðin við Covent Garden í Lundúnum. Vídeólistamaðurinn Tal Rosner hefur meðal annars unnið til BAFTA-verðlaunanna, og m.a. starfað við National Theatre í Lundúnum og Lincoln Center í New York.

Valkyrjan er samstarfsverkefni Sinfóníuhljómsveitar Íslands og Íslensku óperunnar á Listahátíð.

íslenska

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble