Press Release
UPDATED 13 May 2014
CAST CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
– PLEASE NOTE THAT DANIEL BRENNA HAS WITHDRAWN FROM ALL PERFORMANCES
– THE ROLE OF SIEGFRIED WILL NOW BE PERFORMED BY MATI TURI
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG: OPERA NORTH REACHES THE THRILLING CLIMAX OF FOUR-YEAR RING CYCLE
Opera North’s internationally acclaimed journey through Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen reaches its overwhelming conclusion this June with Götterdämmerung. This Ring Cycle, staged in concert over the last four years, has seen Opera North’s music director Richard Farnes praised in the national media as “sensational” and the productions as “a triumph of scarcely imaginable proportions.”
Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) builds on the success of the three previous instalments, Das Rheingold (2011), Die Walküre (2012), and Siegfried (2013). Staged and designed by Peter Mumford, the performances are enhanced by minimal costumes and lighting, with a triptych of screens providing subtle visuals.
From Siegfried's Rhine Journey to Brunnhilde's self-immolation and the work's titanic orchestral climax, the dramatic power of the music takes centre stage. Richard Farnes conducts a cast of home-grown talent and renowned international Wagnerian singers alongside an extended chorus of more than 50 singers and an orchestra of 98 players: opera on a truly epic scale.
Soprano Alwyn Mellor makes a swift return to Opera North as Brünnhilde after her leading role as Minnie in The Girl of the Golden West (2014). After early appearances for the Company as Mařenka in The Bartered Bride and Tatyana in Eugene Onegin she has become an established international Wagnerian, singing for Paris Opera, Seattle Opera and the Royal Opera House, among others. Her Sieglinde in Opera North’s Die Walküre (2012) was much celebrated.
Mati Turi, the Estonian heldentenor, returns as Siegfried, following the title role in Siegfried (2013) for Opera North. He has previously sung Siegfried Götterdämmerung in Enschede and Longborough (2012), as well as the title roles in Parsifal and Tannhäuser in Chemnitz and Tallinn respectively (both 2013). Mats Almgren, the Swedish bass, also returns following his role as Fafner in Siegfried (2013) to sing Hagen, a role he also sang for Scottish Opera in 2003. He is a member of the soloist ensemble at Göteborg and has sung there extensively, with roles including König Mark in Tristan und Isolde (2013) and Il Grande Inquisitore in Don Carlos (2010).
Orla Boylan sings Gutrune following her appearance as Lisa in Opera North’s The Queen of Spades (2011). She has recently moved into the repertoire of Wagner and Strauss, and has received high praise at ENO as Sieglinde in Die Walküre and Senta in The Flying Dutchman, a role she has reprised this season in Oslo and New Zealand.
Following his UK debut in Opera North's Siegfried (2013), Jo Pohlheim again sings Alberich, while American baritone Eric Greene sings Gunther after taking the role of Billy Bigelow in Opera North’s Carousel at the Barbican and Leeds (2012). In 2014, Greene has sung Queequeg in Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick at Washington National Opera, and sings Prince Ivan Kovansky in Birmingham Opera Company's Kovanschina this April.
Susan Bickley makes a very welcome return to the Company to sing Waltraute following her previous appearances as Mistress Quickly in Falstaff, and the title role in Dido and Aeneas in 2007. Other Wagnerian roles include Ortud in Lohengrin for WNO (2013) and Waltraute for the Hallé. The Norns are sung by Fiona Kimm, Heather Shipp and Lee Bisset, while Katherine Broderick, Madeleine Shaw and Sarah Castle take the Rhinemaidens' roles.
BBC Radio 3 will record the performance of Götterdämmerung on 18 June, for broadcast on 30 June 2014.
Götterdämmerung is part of the Yorkshire Festival 2014, and is presented in collaboration with Sage Gateshead and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
Cast and Creative Team:
Brünnhilde ALWYN MELLOR Conductor RICHARD FARNES
Siegfried MATI TURI Director/ Lighting Designer PETER MUMFORD
Hagen MATS ALMGREN
Gutrune ORLA BOYLAN
Gunther ERIC GREENE
Alberich JO POHLHEIM
Waltraute SUSAN BICKLEY
First Norn FIONA KIMM
Second Norn HEATHER SHIPP
Third Norn LEE BISSET
Woglinde KATHERINE BRODERICK
Wellgunde MADELEINE SHAW
Flosshilde SARAH CASTLE
Orchestra of Opera North
Chorus of Opera North
Financially supported by the Opera North Future Fund and The Ring Fellowship
List of performances:
Leeds Town Hall
Sat 14 June Götterdämmerung 3.3opm
Wed 18 June Götterdämmerung 3.3opm
Sat 12 July Götterdämmerung 3.3opm
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Sat 21 June Götterdämmerung 3.3opm
Sage Gateshead
Sat 28 June Götterdämmerung 3.3opm
The Lowry, Salford Quays
Sat 5 July Götterdämmerung 3.3opm
/ENDS
For further information and images, please contact:
Julia Gregg, Press & PR Manager
0113 223 3526
Molly Fetherston, Communications Assistant