Wagner: Die Walkure / Andersen, Howard, Bayley, Silins, Bullock, Elder, Halle Orchestra

$28.99
Label
Halle
Release Date
May 1, 2012
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      WAGNER
    • PERFORMER
      Sir Mark Elder, Hallé
    Product Details ⌄
    Works ⌄

    1. Act I: Prelude

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    2. Act I Scene 1: Wes Herd dies auch sei (Siegmund, Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Yvonne Howard

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    3. Act I Scene 1: Kuhlende Labung gab mir der Quell (Siegmund, Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Yvonne Howard

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    4. Act I Scene 1: Einen Unseligen labtest du (Siegmund, Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Yvonne Howard

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    5. Act I Scene 2: Mud am Herd fand ich den Mann (Sieglinde, Hunding, Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Yvonne Howard, Clive Bayley, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    6. Act I Scene 2: Friedmund darf ich nicht heissen (Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    7. Act I Scene 2: Wunder und wilde Mare kundest du, kuhner Gast (Hunding, Sieglinde, Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Clive Bayley, Yvonne Howard, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    8. Act I Scene 2: Die so leidig Los dir beschied (Hunding, Sieglinde, Siegmunde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Clive Bayley, Yvonne Howard, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    9. Act I Scene 2: Ich weiss ein wildes Geschlecht (Hunding)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Clive Bayley

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    10. Act I Scene 3: Ein Schwert verhiess mir der Vater (Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    11. Act I Scene 3: Schlafst du, Gast? (Sieglinde, Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Yvonne Howard, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    12. Act I Scene 3: Dich, selige Frau, halt nun der Freund (Siegmund, Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Yvonne Howard

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    13. Act I Scene 3: Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    14. Act I Scene 3: Du bist der Lenz (Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Yvonne Howard

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    15. Act I Scene 3: O susseste Wonne! Seligstes Weib! (Siegmund, Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Yvonne Howard

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    16. Act I Scene 3: Wehwalt heiss du furwahr (Sieglinde, Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Yvonne Howard, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    17. Act I Scene 3: Siegmund heiss ich und Siegmund bin ich! (Siegmund, Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    18. Act II Scene 1: Prelude

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    19. Act II Scene 1: Nun zaume dein Ross, reisige Maid! (Wotan, Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    20. Act II Scene 1: Der alte Sturm, die alte Muh! (Wotan, Fricka)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bickley

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    21. Act II Scene 1: Heut' hast du's erlebt! (Wotan, Fricka)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bickley

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    22. Act II Scene 1: Nichts lerntest du, wollt' ich dich lehren (Wotan, Fricka)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bickley

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    23. Act II Scene 1: Was verlangst du? (Wotan, Fricka)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bickley

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    24. Act II Scene 1: Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre (Fricka, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bickley, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    25. Act II Scene 2: Schlimm, furcht' ich, schloss der Streit (Brünnhilde, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    26. Act II Scene 2: Als junger Liebe Lust mir verblich (Wotan, Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    27. Act II Scene 2: Ein andres ist's (Wotan, Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    28. Act II Scene 2: So nimmst du von Siegmund den Sieg? (Brünnhilde, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    29. Act II Scene 2: O sag, Kunde! (Brünnhilde, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    30. Act II Scene 2: So sah ich Siegvater nie (Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    31. Act II Scene 3: Raste nun hier, gonne dir Ruh! (Siegmund, Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Yvonne Howard

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    32. Act II Scene 3: Hinweg! Hinweg! Flieh die Entweihte! (Sieglinde, Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Yvonne Howard, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    33. Act II Scene 3: Wo bist du, Siegmund? (Sieglinde, Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Yvonne Howard, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    34. Act II Scene 4: Siegmund! Sieh auf mich! (Brünnhilde, Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    35. Act II Scene 4: Der dir nun folgt (Siegmund, Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    36. Act II Scene 4: Du sahest der Walküre sehrenden Blick (Brünnhilde, Siegmund

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    37. Act II Scene 4: Weh! Weh! Sussestes Weib (Siegmund, Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    38. Act II Scene 4: So jung und schon erschimmerst du mir (Siegmund, Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    39. Act II Scene 5: Zauberfest bezahmt ein Schlaf (Siegmund)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    40. Act II Scene 5: Der dort mich ruft (Siegmund, Sieglinde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Stig Andersen, Yvonne Howard

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    41. Act II Scene 5: Wehwalt! Wehwalt! (Hunding, Siegmund, Sieglinde, Brünnhilde, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Clive Bayley, Stig Andersen, Yvonne Howard, Susan Bullock, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    42. Act II Scene 5: Geh' hin, Knecht! Knie vor Fricka (Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    43. Act III Scene 1: Hojotoho! Hojotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha, "Ride of the Valkyries" (Gerhilde, Helmwiege, Waltraute, Schwertleite, Ortlinde, Siegrune, Rossweisse, Grimgerde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Miranda Keys, Elaine McKrill, Sarah Castle, Linda Finnie, Katherine Broderick, Alison Kettlewell, Ceri Williams, Leah Marian Jones

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    44. Act III Scene 1: Schutzt mich und helft in hochster Not! (Brünnhilde, The Valkyries)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Miranda Keys, Elaine McKrill, Sarah Castle, Linda Finnie, Katherine Broderick, Alison Kettlewell, Ceri Williams, Leah Marian Jones

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    45. Act III Scene 1: Nicht sehre dich Sorge um mich (Sieglinde, Brünnhilde, The Valkyries)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Yvonne Howard, Susan Bullock, Miranda Keys, Elaine McKrill, Sarah Castle, Linda Finnie, Katherine Broderick, Alison Kettlewell, Ceri Williams, Leah Marian Jones

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    46. Act III Scene 1: So fliehe denn eilig (Brünnhilde, Sieglinde, Wotan, The Valkyries)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Yvonne Howard, Egils Siliņš, Miranda Keys, Elaine McKrill, Sarah Castle, Linda Finnie, Katherine Broderick, Alison Kettlewell, Ceri Williams, Leah Marian Jones

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    47. Act III Scene 2: Wo ist Brunnhild', wo die Verbrecherin? (Wotan, The Valkyries)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Miranda Keys, Elaine McKrill, Sarah Castle, Linda Finnie, Katherine Broderick, Alison Kettlewell, Ceri Williams, Leah Marian Jones

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    48. Act III Scene 2: Hier bin ich, Vater: gebiete die Strafe! (Brünnhilde, Wotan, The Valkyries)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Egils Siliņš, Miranda Keys, Elaine McKrill, Sarah Castle, Linda Finnie, Katherine Broderick, Alison Kettlewell, Ceri Williams, Leah Marian Jones

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    49. Act III Scene 2: Halt ein, o Vater! (The Valkyries, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Miranda Keys, Elaine McKrill, Sarah Castle, Linda Finnie, Katherine Broderick, Alison Kettlewell, Ceri Williams, Leah Marian Jones, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    50. Act III Scene 3: Interlude

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    51. Act III Scene 3: War es so schmahlich, was ich verbrach (Brünnhilde, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    52. Act III Scene 3: Nicht weise bin ich (Brünnhilde, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    53. Act III Scene 3: So tatest du, was so gern zu tun ich begehrt (Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    54. Act III Scene 3: Wohl taugte dir nicht die tor'ge Maid (Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    55. Act III Scene 3: Du folgtest selig der Liebe Macht (Wotan, Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    56. Act III Scene 3: Du zeugtest ein edles Geschlecht (Brünnhilde, Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Susan Bullock, Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    57. Act III Scene 3: In festen Schlaf verschliess' ich dich (Wotan, Brünnhilde)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš, Susan Bullock

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    58. Act III Scene 3: Leb' wohl, du kuhnes, herrliches Kind! (Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    59. Act III Scene 3: Der Augen leuchtendes Paar (Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    60. Act III Scene 3: Loge, hor'! Lausche hieher! (Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder

    61. Act III Scene 3: Wer meines Speeres Spitze furchtet (Wotan)

      Composer: Richard Wagner

      Ensemble: Hallé Orchestra

      Performer: Egils Siliņš

      Conductor: Mark Elder


Consistently high musical standards...excellent sound quality too.

Mark Elder insists that he and the Hallé Orchestra are not in the process of recording a full Ring cycle. That's a great shame, as this Walküre is as fine a recording as their previous and much-lauded Götterdämmerung. Wagner recorded live in concert is rapidly becoming the rule rather than the exception, and full Ring cycles in that format from both Gergiev and Janowski are scheduled for the composer's bicentenary in 2013. No doubt both will be impressive offerings, but it is hard to imagine that either will have anything further to say on Walküre than Mark Elder has had to say here.
 
The performance was split across two consecutive evenings at the Manchester International Festival in 2011. There were no patch sessions, but the mics were in place at the rehearsals, and some of this has been edited in. The result manages to capture the best of both worlds - it's as note-perfect as a studio recording, but as atmospheric and dramatically coherent as a concert performance.
 
From Mark Elder's description of the project, the whole thing was much more precarious than the assured quality of the recording suggests. The concerts were only made possible through sponsorship hastily convened by the Manchester Festival. The cast includes three singers, Sarah Castle, Yvonne Howard and Elaine McKrill, who were drafted in as short-notice replacements.
 
Mark Elder is clearly the sort of conductor who would only embark on such a project if he knew he could do it full justice. He has rehearsed the orchestra magnificently, not only to follow his occasionally esoteric tempos, but also to maintain a consistency of spirit and tone across the huge spans of each of the acts. Elder also has that crucial operatic quality of being able to give his soloists, both vocal and instrumental, the space they need to shape their melodic lines, while still maintaining the symphonic logic of the whole. The orchestra repays his confidence in them with inspired playing at every turn. The horns deserve a special mention. They are kept busy throughout, but rarely have the horn parts sounded so fresh and vital as here. Great woodwind playing too. The woodwind soloists really benefit from the quality of the sound recording, which both balances them against the ensemble, and picks them out from the centre of the group with consistent clarity. You'll also hear better trumpets and trombones here than on most other recordings of the work.
 
The performance is very much an interpretation, with Mark Elder imprinting his musical personality on every phrase. Elder's pacing is similar to the way he speaks. It is steady, clear and undemonstrative. Clarity of phrase and rhythm comes though accentuation, from the heels of the strings' bows and from the brass, while the passion and drama are projected through the very wide dynamic range. The orchestral set pieces - the Act 1 Prelude, the Ride of the Valkyries, the Magic Fire music - are all on the steady side as far as tempos go. The definite and deliberate accentuation ensures that the slower speeds never threaten the atmosphere or drama. Everything feels like an emphatic statement, and nothing is ever treated as trivial or transitory. In the context of other famous recordings of the work, Elder's steady tempos resemble Haitink, the agogic weight from the orchestra approaches Solti, while the communication from the podium and the immaculate preparation are more akin to Karajan.
 
There are no huge names in the cast, which ironically helps to maintain consistent quality between the singers. Every one of them is equal to Wagner's challenges, and despite the concert hall setting, there is a real feeling of dramatic involvement from each of the leads. Susan Bickley is a suitably angry Fricka, while Susan Bullock's Brünnhilde sounds both wayward and emotionally complex. The singers also articulate the German with a rare clarity, another quality that benefits from the excellent sound engineering. The bass in the mix is particularly strong and well-defined, all the better to hear the excellent performances from the lower male voices, Clive Bayley as Hunding and Eglis Silins as Wotan.
 
No cast for a Wagner opera is completely flawless. Susan Bullock is considered one of the finest Brünnhildes of today, but I find her wide, penetrating vibrato excessive, especially on the top notes. That said, her performance is less abrasive than on the recent recording of the work from Frankfurt Opera (Oehms Classics OC 936). Despite the fact that the opera was divided across two nights, some of the singers can be heard to tire, which is perfectly understandable given the duration and intensity of many of the monologues. Stig Andersen's Siegmund sounds much fresher at the start of Act 1 than at the end. Eglis Silins has similar problems towards the end of Act 2, although he's back on form for Act 3, and then manages to maintain the tone right until the end.
 
These are minor quibbles though, and the overall impression this recording gives is of consistently high musical standards from singers and orchestra alike. Excellent sound quality too, all of which suggests significant investment to make the recording the best it could possibly be. The packaging is a little less opulent. The booklet gives only a track-listing, a very brief synopsis and an orchestra list, all on unlaminated paper. An additional CD-ROM is included with images of the concerts and a pdf libretto. In fact, there are only three photos, a cursory offering at best, and the libretto seems redundant, considering that it is widely available online. Personally, I'd rather a pdf of the full score, which could easily be added at no further expense to anybody.
 
The packaging is the only concession to economy here, and if the qualities of the recording itself were not enough to recommend the release, the budget price tag ought to seal the deal. Even the reissues of Solti and Karajan conducting the opera cost more than this brand new one. So here's hoping that the resources and opportunities will be found for a Rheingold and Siegfried in the same series. Should they materialise, this could become one of the great Ring cycles of our times.
 
-- Gavin Dixon, MusicWeb International