Die Walküre

The star of this 2010 Bayreuth performance of the second opera in Richard Wagner's Ring cycle is undoubtedly conductor Christian Thielemann, who delivers a rich, propulsive reading of the score, which is played with commitment and passion by the Festival Orchestra. Unfortunately, however, the other elements of the production fall short. The best singing comes from tenor Johan Botha and soprano Edith Haller in demanding roles as the doomed sibling lovers, Siegmund and Sieglinde. But Albert Dohmen as the god Wotan is undernourished, while Linda Watson is variable as his Valkyrie daughter Brünnhilde, whose misguided intervention on Siegmund's behalf against Sieglinde's husband (Kwangchul Youn) leads Wotan to imprison her within the magic circle of fire. All of the vocalists, moreover, are hampered by Tankred Dorst's sets, which situate the action in modern ruins (and incorporate some contemporary figures in the background, presumably to link our imaginations to the world of the mythic gods), and Bernd Ernst Skodzig's costumes, which in the case of the warrior maidens consist of gaudy red kimonos (with wigs to match) and transparent plastic shields. With its outstanding orchestral work, this might have been a Die Walküre for the ages; as it is, the shortcomings make it only one of several solid contenders in a crowded field (a better choice would be Carlus Padrissa's 2007 staging—see review of Das Rheingold [VL-5/10]). Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on Blu-ray) and LPCM stereo, extras include a “making-of” featurette and a cast gallery. Recommended, overall. (F. Swietek)