Oper
The Twilight of the Gods
Richard Wagner
Information
Third day of the scenic festival Der Ring des Nibelungen | Text by the composer
Einführung 45 Min. vor Vorstellungsbeginn im Konzertfoyer
Comment
“They are rushing toward their own ruin, they who are so confident of their own existence,” prophesies Loge at the end of Rheingold. And then, in Walküre, Wotan becomes painfully aware that he’s borrowed more than he can afford in order to build Valhalla, and confides in his daughter Brünnhilde that his plans have foundered – and that he wishes only for the end. Time and again, Alberich’s curse strikes, always demanding a new sacrifice: Love or power — but never both. Siegmund and Sieglinde, the twin lovers, tasted the power of the Ring, and fell victim to its curse. But one final hope remains, one final chance to win the Ring of the Nibelungs back from Fafner. Siegfried, a new hero, who never learned to be afraid. But this naive child of nature is bound to fall victim to the ice-cold machinations of an ever-coarsening society, in which love, friendship, truth, and loyalty are increasingly disregarded. In the end, a complete collapse of the existing world is the only way to guarantee a new beginning. Wagner’s The Twilight of the Gods describes the transition from nature to civilization, from the world of gods to the world of men, from legend to reality – until the apocalyptic moment when nature returns, with all of her force. The myriad musical motives coalesce in this, the final part of Wagner’s tetralogy. They culminate in Brünnhilde’s immolation scene, when once again the entire world of the Ring passes before our eyes. The Twilight of the Gods is perhaps the most exciting story that Wagner ever wrote: A thrilling psychological tale of love, power, and betrayal, and performing the opera is a tour de force for soloists, choir and orchestra. Ulf Schirmer, managing director and general music director of the Oper Leipzig, leads the Gewandhausorchester.
Cast
Direction
Musikalische Leitung Ulf Schirmer, Inszenierung Rosamund Gilmore, Bühne Carl Friedrich Oberle, Kostüme Nicola Reichert, Licht Michael Röger, Choreinstudierung Thomas Eitler-de Lint, Dramaturgie Christian Geltinger, Opernchor, Gewandhausorchester
Cast members
- Brünnhilde Lise Lindstrom
- Gutrune Gal James
- Waltraute Karin Lovelius
- 1. Norn Karin Lovelius
- 2. Norn Kathrin Göring
- 3. Norn Magdalena Hinterdobler
- Woglinde Olga Jelínková
- Wellgunde Sandra Maxheimer
- Floßhilde Sandra Janke
- Siegfried Jonathan Stoughton
- Gunther Tuomas Pursio
- Alberich Kay Stiefermann
- Hagen Sebastian Pilgrim