Die Walküre – August 10

Part 2 of the Ring cycle, featuring the unforgettable “Ride Of The Valkyries”, is equal parts heady romance and high-stakes family drama.

The Story:

Deep in the forest, love blossoms between the dashing nomad Siegmund and the unhappily married Sieglinde. Believing that this union holds the key to lifting the ring’s curse, Wotan instructs his Valkyrie daughter Brünnhilde to defend Siegmund in the ensuing duel. The adulterous pairing draws the ire of Fricka, goddess of marriage, who demands the interloper be killed. Wotan defers to Fricka, but Brünnhilde, moved by Siegmund’s overwhelming love, defies the gods and protects him. The duel ends messily, Sieglinde is spirited away to bear a son, and Wotan and Brünnhilde have a fiery father/daughter showdown on a towering cliff.

ACT I - Wotan’s son by a mortal woman, Siegmund, flees his foes and ends up in the house of Hunding. He falls in love with Sieglinde, Hunding’s wife, who returns his love. When Hunding comes home, he reveals that he is one of Siegmund’s enemies but admits that he is compelled by laws of hospitality to give Siegmund shelter for the night. Sieglinde drugs her husband. She shows him a sword buried in a tree by a stranger (Wotan in disguise). Siegmund pulls it from the tree. The two fall into each other’s arms. They now know that they are the Volsung twins, separated long ago by the death of their mother, but their ardor still burns bright.

ACT II - In the gods’ domain, Brünnhilde, the daughter of Wotan, prepares on his orders to fight for Siegmund against Hunding. Fricka, Wotan’s wife, argues that Wotan must destroy his son because of Siegmund’s incest, which is against the laws of the gods. Bound by his own promises to honor the laws, Wotan countermands his order to Brünnhilde. However, when she meets Siegmund and Sieglinde, Brünnhilde decides to defy Wotan. Wotan has to appear himself to give Hunding the victory over Siegmund, shattering Siegmund’s sword during the battle. Gathering up the fragments of Siegmund’s sword, Brünnhilde helps Sieglinde escape.

ACT III - Enraged at Brünnhilde, Wotan pursues the Valkyrie and sentences her to become a mortal. Brünnhilde persuades her father to place her in an enchanted sleep and surround her with fire so that only a fearless man can win her.

The Cast: http://www.seattleopera.org/tickets/ring/ring_2009/walkure/artists.aspx>Full Cast with Bios

Show starts 6pm and there are two intermissions

Photo: Stuart Skelton as Siegmund: © Chris Bennion photo