It's about time I did a full review of ENO's Valkyrie the other night.
How to pitch this? Hmm. Basically, Valkyrie is the second of four operas in Wagner's Ring Cycle. The Ring Cycle is based on various Nordic and Germanic mythologies. In full, the four operas of the Tetralogy are Das Rhinegold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. However, because ENO is committed to opera in English, they also translate the titles. (The links are to New York's Metropolitan Opera's detailed synopsis).
The story of the Valkyrie is very simple. Siegmund seeks refuge in a hut where Sieglinde lives. Although she is married to someone else, Hunding, they fall in love and then realise that they are long-estranged twins, the children of Wotan, King of the Gods. Siegmund knows him as Walse, a mortal. He knows he must kill Hunding and calls on Walse for the magic sword (Nothung). Coincidentally, Sieglinde remembers that on her wedding day, a stranger left a sword, which no one has been able to pull out of the an ash tree.
There's going to be a fight between Siegmund and Hunding, so Wotan instructs his daughter, Brunnhilde, a warrior, his illegitimate daughter by Erda, the earth goddess, to protect Siegmund. Incidentally, Brunnhilde has 8 sisters - the Valkyries, who later perform the famous Ride.
Wotan's wife Fricka, Goddess of Marriage, tells Wotan that he must protect the marriage of Sieglinde and Hunding, rather than encourage the incestuous relationship between the twins. Wotan instructs Brunnhilde to destroy Siegmund, but when she realises how much Siegmund and Sieglinde are in love she disobeys Wotan. But Wotan destroys Nothung the Magic Sword, and Hunding kills Siegmund. Brunnhilde consoles Sieglinde with the news that she is with child, and that child will be a hero - Siegfried of the third part.
Because Brunnhilde has disobeyed Wotan, he has to banish her. She is his beloved daughter, existing only to do his will, so it breaks his heart to have to put her on a mountain in a deep sleep. He calls on Loge the God of Fire to protect her with a ring of fire, awaiting the day that a hero who knows no fear comes to rescue her. (that hero, incidentally, will be Siegfried).
Virtual Brownie point if you have got this far...
Die Walküre exists for a number of reasons. One is to explain the background to Siegfried, and why he goes to rescue Brunnhilde; 2 is for the gorgeously sumptuous lush music; and 3 is for the interpersonal relationships between, especially Siegmund and Sieglinde the twins; and Wotan and his beloved daughter Brunnhilde. In addition, of course, we have potentially an amazing visual spectacle.
On Tuesday night, the orchestra was lush, the music beautiful. Not in a "Oh I recognise that aria" way, but the harmonies, and for me, the way the brass comes through like velvet. I was very disappointed in the visual spectacle. After Rhinegold, which was full of bright dramatic colour and action, I was disappointed that Valkyrie was conducted almost totally in monochrome. I missed the bit where Brunnhilde told Sieglinde that she was with child. I also blinked and missed Siegmund's death - damn good thing there was a film crew on stage to capture it. There were some good gimmicks - trust me, you have to watch The Ride when it is televised from Glastonbury (me, I shall either be walking The Burren, or nursing the hangover of my life. Or both...).
But I suppose what got me was the lack of eroticism. The programme banged on and on about it, but I was not convinced. Sure, Sieglinde lay on the kitchen table and provocatively felt Siegmund up (much to the tutting of seriously elderly people near me - WTF did they expect). But for me a lustful grope is not erotic. Similarly, frequent silhouette shots of the twins shagging is not erotic. Nor Wotan and Brunnhilde romping, firstly on the floor, then on a hospital trolley. the eroticism is partly in the singing, and partly how they interact with each other. You know, the Acting bit - it is, after all, musical drama.
I really enjoyed it, and can't wait for Siegfried in the Autumn., but am looking even more forward to next summer at Covent Garden.
My initial reaction.
