Dutch National Opera presents
FROM AUDI’S LEGENDARY RING
Don’t miss this final chance – ever! – to see Die Walküre, the second and most entrancing part of Wagner’s Ring, in the legendary production by Pierre Audi. A fiery spectacle around gods, demigods and mortals.
Conflict between power and love
Die Walküre remains unsurpassed in its portrayal of the fatal conflict between power and love, the overarching theme of the Ring des Nibelungen. Composed as the first day of Wagner’s ‘Buhnenfestspiel’, Die Walküre takes a giant leap from the prologue, Das Rheingold, into the thick of the action.
Gods with human desires
A compelling drama enacted by relatable characters, thrilling music and fiery spectacle, Die Walküre forms the ‘human’ heart of Wagner’s mythical four-part cycle, in which the gods reveal their human desires. The doomed romance between Wotan’s bastards Sieglinde and Siegmund is sealed and Wotan’s Valkyrie daughter Brünnhilde is punished for attempting to aid the lovers. Stripped of her divine status and immortality, Brünhilde sleeps in a circle of fire to await a hero’s kiss.
Adventure seats
Adventurous, no fear of heights and a desire to experience Die Walküre in an unusual way? Then take a seat on the adventure seats. These seats float above the stage and offer a unique perspective on the opera.
Please mind that there is no view of the surtitles from the adventure seats.
Team and cast of Die Walküre
Marc Albrecht
For DNO chief conductor Marc Albrecht, conducting this opera represents a long-cherished dream come true. Unique in this staging of Die Walküre is that the orchestra plays not from the pit, but in the midst of the drama. A star-studded cast featuring some of the leading Wagner soloists of today make this final run of the production extra special.
Eva-Maria Westbroek
Eva-Maria Westbroek was lauded by de Volkskrant (2017) as ‘not only the Netherlands’ calling card to the international opera world – singing in leading houses from The Met in New York to Covent Garden in London – the charming soprano is also beloved by her fans.’ In high demand since her sensational Dutch National Opera debut in Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, Westbroek has also appeared in DNO’s La fanciulla del West, Les Troyens, Manon Lescaut, Wozzeck and La forza del destino. It was in the role of Sieglinde that Westbroek soared to worldwide fame.
Set
With George Tsypin’s magnificent set and costumes by Eiko Ishioka.
Pierre Audi
Resident directorPIERRE AUDI (stage director) became director of De Nederlandse Opera in 1988. As of 1 January 2013 he has become Director of Dutch National Opera. In the years of his leadership till september 2018 he is credited with giving the Netherlands its own opera tradition. His combined vision and audacity have earned him respect, both in the Netherlands and far beyond its borders, as both the Director of Dutch National Opera and as a stage director.
Marc Albrecht
Chief ConductorMarc Albrecht, Chief Conductor of The Dutch National Opera and The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra is known not only for his interpretations of works by Wagner and Richard Strauss, but also for his affinity for contemporary music.
Die Walküre
‘Musikdrama’
in 3 acts
Libretto
Richard Wagner
World premiere
26 June 1870
Königliches Hof-und Nationaltheater München
Team, Cast and Chorus
- Musical Director
- Marc Albrecht
- Stage Director
- Pierre Audi
- Set Director
- George Tsypin
- Costume Directors
- Eiko Ishioka
Robby Duiveman - Lighting Directors
- Wolfgang Göbbel
Cor van den Brink - Video
- Maarten van der Put
- Dramaturgy
- Klaus Bertisch
- Orchestra
- Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest
- Siegmund
- Michael König
- Hunding
- Stephen Milling
- Wotan
- Iain Paterson
- Sieglinde
- Eva-Maria Westbroek
- Brünnhilde
- Martina Serafin
- Fricka
- Okka von der Damerau
- Gerhilde
- Dorothea Herbert
- Ortlinde
- An de Ridder
- Waltraute
- Kai Rüütel
- Schwerleite
- Julia Faylenbogen
- Helmwige
- Christiane Kohl
- Siegrune
- Bettina Ranch
- Grimgerde
- Eva Kroon
- Rossweisse
- Iris van Wijnen
Orchestra
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra has been the principal partner of Dutch National Opera for more than 30 years and is among the world's best opera orchestras.
The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is the orchestra’s primary venue. Besides programmes led by chief conductor Marc Albrecht and Gordan Nicolic (musical director of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra), it also has various collaborations with internationally renowned guest conductors and soloists, as well as budding stars of the next generation of musicians. The orchestra seeks to make the classical repertoire accessible to everyone, performing not only in concert halls but also a range of unusual and more adventurous venues. By bringing people together through music, the orchestra creates beautiful and memorable musical experiences for all, from classical aficionados to new audiences.
With its home base in the NedPhO-Koepel, a former church in Amsterdam's culturally diverse Indische Buurt, the orchestra plays a vital role in the community. Each year it organises some two hundred activities around music education, neighbourhood participation and talent development.
In the 2019-2020 season, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra is playing in the DNO productions of Pagliacci I Cavalleria rusticana, Die Walküre, Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny and Die Frau ohne Schatten. The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra is playing in Così fan tutte and La Cenerentola.
Tue 12 Feb
Die Walküre - NRC 2004
"This production of Die Walküre is a triumph of timeless mythic enchantment and aesthetic purity"
Tue 12 Feb
Die Walküre - Place de l’Opera, 2013
“[…] a stunning première of Die Walküre. Back again in Amsterdam after eight years, Pierre Audi’s production of Wagner’s opera is as overwhelming as ever.’
Tue 12 Feb
Die Walküre - Theaterkrant, 2013*****
‘Pierre Audi’s staging of Die Walklüre (the second part of Wagner’s magnum opus Der Ring des Nibelungen) is a classic.’
Tue 12 Feb
Die Walküre - de Volkskrant 2004
‘Special effects aside, Audi’s much-vaunted direction is sublimely restrained, concentrating on the actions and the emotions driving the characters. That makes this Walküre a whole new experience.’
