Press Release
6 June 2016
DIE WALKüRE CAST CHANGE NOTICE: WOTAN
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Hungarian baritone B é la Perencz has withdrawn from three scheduled performances as Wotan in Die Walküre in Nottingham (7 June), Salford (14 June) and London (29 June), part of Opera North’s current tour of Richard Wagner’s Ring cycle.
Robert Hayward, who has already sung Wotan (Die Walküre) in performances in Leeds, will now sing the role on these three dates. Hayward is also scheduled to sing the role in the final cycle in Opera North’s current tour, at Sage Gateshead on 6 July.
B é la Perencz is also performing the role of the Wanderer in Siegfried and will perform all remaining dates in this role as originally billed.
Conducted by Richard Farnes, in his last appearance as Opera North’s Music Director, and with atmospheric staging and design by Peter Mumford, the Ring opens in Nottingham today following two complete cycles in Leeds, with further dates at The Lowry in Salford, London’s Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre, and Sage Gateshead.
BBC Radio 3 will broadcast the complete Ring from Sage Gateshead, in the final performances of the current tour, while digital commissioning body The Space is also collaborating with Opera North to produce an online filmed version of the complete Ring cycle. Filmed during the second cycle at Leeds Town Hall in May, the film of the Ring will be made available to stream online later in the year.
www.theringcycle.co.uk
/Ends
For further information , please contact:
Julia O’Sullivan, Head of Communications
0113 223 3526 | 07956 647573 | julia.o’
Elizabeth Simmonds, Press Officer
0113 213 5641|
Rowland Thomas, Press Officer
0113 213 3528 |
www.operanorth.co.uk/press-centre
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Richard Wagner (1876)
Sung in German with English titles
Orchestra of Opera North
Conductor Richard Farnes
Concert Staging & Design Concept Peter Mumford
Lighting & Projection Designer Peter Mumford
Associate Director Joe Austin
Das Rheingold
The ‘preliminary evening’ of The Ring begins with music that evokes the dawn of time, starting a journey which travels from the watery twilight beneath the river Rhine, to the rainbow bridge that leads to Valhalla, fortress home of the gods. Set in a world populated by dwarfs and giants, gods and river-maidens, Das Rheingold sets the whole epic cycle in motion in thrilling fashion.
Wotan Michael Druiett
Loge Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke
Alberich Jo Pohlheim
Fricka Yvonne Howard
Mime Richard Roberts
Freia Giselle Allen
Donner Andrew Foster-Williams
Froh Mark Le Brocq
Fasolt James Creswell
Fafner Mats Almgren
Erda Ceri Williams
Claudia Huckle (Leeds Cycle 2)
Woglinde Jeni Bern
Wellgunde Madeleine Shaw
Flosshilde Sarah Castle
Die Walküre
In Die Walküre, it is human emotion that takes centre stage. The musical highlights are many: ‘Winterstürme’, Siegmund’s hymn of praise to the coming of Spring and the awakening of love; the Ride of the Valkyries; the Magic Fire music; and, above all, the great confrontation between the god Wotan and his favourite daughter, Brünnhilde – the Valkyrie of the title.
Brünnhilde Kelly Cae Hogan
Sieglinde Lee Bisset
Siegmund Michael Weinius (Leeds, Lowry, Southbank Centre, Sage Gateshead)
Mark Le Brocq (Nottingham)
Wotan Robert Hayward
Fricka Susan Bickley (Leeds, Nottingham)
Yvonne Howard (Lowry, Southbank Centre, Sage Gateshead)
Hunding James Creswell
Gerhilde Giselle Allen
Helmwige Katherine Broderick
Waltraute Heather Shipp
Schwertleite Claudia Huckle
Ortlinde Kate Valentine
Siegrune Sarah Castle
Grimgerde Fiona Kimm
Rossweisse Madeleine Shaw
Siegfried
Wagner’s unparalleled orchestral scene-painting reaches new heights as the youthful hero Siegfried, mortal grandson of Wotan, the king of the gods, forges an unbreakable sword. He slays the dragon Fafner, seizes the ring from the dragon’s hoard, and braves the magic fire that encircles the sleeping Brünnhilde.
Siegfried Lars Cleveman
Brünnhilde Katherine Broderick (Leeds)
Kelly Cae Hogan (Nottingham, Lowry, Southbank Centre, Gateshead)
Mime Richard Roberts
Wanderer Béla Perencz
Fafner Mats Almgren
Alberich Jo Pohlheim
Woodbird Jeni Bern
Erda Ceri Williams
Claudia Huckle (Leeds Cycle 2)
G?tterd?mmerung
In the overwhelming conclusion of the cycle, the all-consuming love of Siegfried and Brünnhilde is broken in bitter betrayal; the scheming Hagen, son of Alberich, seals Siegfried’s doom; and Brünnhilde’s self-sacrifice precipitates the end of the old world order and the beginning of a new era. The musical and dramatic power of G?tterd?mmerung is awe-inspiring – sweeping from Siegfried’s Rhine Journey to his Funeral March, and, finally, to Brünnhilde’s immolation and the work’s titanic orchestral climax.
Brünnhilde Kelly Cae Hogan
Siegfried Mati Turi
Hagen Mats Almgren
Gutrune Giselle Allen
Gunther Andrew Foster-Williams
Waltraute Susan Bickley (Leeds, Sage Gateshead)
Heather Shipp (Nottingham, Lowry, Southbank Centre)
Alberich Jo Pohlheim
First Norn Fiona Kimm
Second Norn Heather Shipp (Leeds, Sage Gateshead)
Yvonne Howard (Nottingham, Lowry, Southbank Centre)
Third Norn Lee Bisset
Woglinde Jeni Bern
Wellgunde Madeleine Shaw
Flosshilde Sarah Castle
Chorus of Opera North
List of remaining performances:
Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Mon 6 June 2016 7.00pm Das Rheingold
Tue 7 June 2016 3.00pm Die Walküre
Thu 9 June 2016 3.00pm Siegfried
Sat 11 June 2016 3.00pm G?tterd?mmerung
The Lowry, Salford Quays
Mon 13 June 2016 7.30pm Das Rheingold
Tue 14 June 2016 4.30pm Die Walküre
Thu 16 June 2016 4.30pm Siegfried
Sat 18 June 2016 3.30pm G?tterd?mmerung
Southbank Centre, London
(All performances also relayed live to Clore Ballroom)
Tue 28 June 2016 7.00pm Das Rheingold
Wed 29 June 2016 5.00pm Die Walküre
Fri 1 July 2016 5.00pm Siegfried
Sun 3 July 2016 3.00pm G?tterd?mmerung
Sage Gateshead
(All performances also broadcast on BBC Radio 3)
Tue 5 July 2016 7.30pm Das Rheingold
Wed 6 July 2016 4.30pm Die Walküre
Fri 8 July 2016 4.30pm Siegfried
Sun 10 July 2016 3.30pm G?tterd?mmerung
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