Die Walküre - "Hits the Mark!" - opera review by Gregg Geary, Honolulu Star Bulletin

Die Walküre - opera review by Ruth Bingham, Honolulu Advertiser

Richard Wagner's unforgettable music and thrilling story commands the stage for HOT's 50th Anniversary Season centerpiece opera directed by Henry Akina, HOT's General and Artistic director.

Conductor - Jari Hämäläinen

Director - Henry G. Akina

Scenic & Lighting Designer - Peter Dean Beck

Costumer - Helen E. Rodgers

Wig & Make-up Designer - Richard Stead

Sieglinde - Susan B. Anthony

Siegmund - Kip Wilborn

Wotan - Jake Gardner

Brünnhilde - Lori Phillips

Hunding - John Marcus Bindel

Die Walküre

by Richard Wagner 

Running time:  3.5 hours

Synposis

Act I  Legendary times, in the forests of Northern Europe

A storm is raging and a young man stumbles onto a strange house. Exhausted, he collapses on the hearth. Found by the mistress of the house, she comforts him and brings him water. He feels an immediate connection to the woman, who tells him that she is the wife of Hunding, a Nieding warrior, who will soon be home. The woman asks the stranger about himself and he reveals his name to be “Wehwalt”, or “Woeful” and that his life has been shrouded in despair. She concurs, implying that her life is also an unhappy one. Hunding returns home from battle and demands to learn more about the mysterious stranger. Woeful tells of a disaster-fi lled life— born with a twin sister, he returned with his father, Wolfe, from a hunting trip one day to fi nd their home destroyed, his mother murdered and his sister missing. The culprits were his father’s enemies, the Niedings.

After the attack, he and his father began years of wandering, but were continuously hunted by their foes. Wolfe has since disappeared and Woeful has spent his time being at odds with the world. Hunding becomes suspicious of the stranger’s resemblance to his wife and asks him how he has come to be weaponless. Woeful replies that he has just been in a skirmish trying to rescue a girl who was being forced into a loveless marriage. He fought and killed her oppressors but the girl would not leave her slain kinsmen and was also killed. Hunding realizes that this was the very same battle that he had just returned from and that the stranger is one of his hated enemies. He informs Woeful that he can have shelter for the night, but that he must fight him in the morning. As Woeful is weaponless, this can only mean certain death for him. Hunding retires for the evening and orders his wife to mix his sleeping drink. As she prepares it, she stares meaningfully at Woeful and tries to get him to look at the ash- tree in the yard.

Although he does not understand what the woman was trying to tell him, Woeful recalls his father and his promise that in his most desperate time of need he would send him a sword. He cries out for the sword and a flash of light comes from the ash-tree. Woeful can make out the faint outline of a sword. Suddenly, the hearth goes dark. The woman returns and tells Woeful that she drugged her husband’s sleeping drink. She wants to help him and thinks there may be a way. She recalls her wedding day to Hunding, which was not a happy day for her. Sold to Hunding as his wife, a wanderer appeared at their wedding and thrust a great sword into the ashtree, declaring that it would belong to whoever could pull it out. Many have tried but it remains in the tree and the woman feels that Woeful is the one who will retrieve it. Their attraction to each other has grown and they embrace. Woeful sings of the beautiful night and declares that “Spring and love are brother and sister and one sets the other free!”

The woman responds that he is the Spring noting that his face is much like her own. The stranger reveals his father’s name is actually “Wälse” and the woman rapturously realizes that he is also a Wälsung. She says her name is Sieglinde and recognizes their common ancestry — the stranger is her twin brother Siegmund and the sword is meant for him. Siegmund rushes to the tree, draws the sword and names it “Nothung” (“Needful”). The two Wälsungs fl ee into the night rejoicing in their new union.

Act II  A mountain pass, a gorge in the background and a high, rocky ridge

Wotan, the leader of the Gods, summons his favorite Valkyrie daughter Brunhilde and explains that she has an important task to complete for him: she must aid his mortal son Siegmund in his upcoming battle against Hunding. Brunhilde is delighted and utters her famous battle cry “Hojotoho”! She warns Wotan that his wife, Fricka, is approaching in an angry state and leaves them to settle their dispute.

Fricka is the Goddess of Marriage. She unleashes her anger at Wotan, citing social propriety, and reveals that she has been called upon to defend Hunding’s rights in his upcoming battle against Siegmund. Wotan tries to explain about Sieglinde’s loveless marriage, but Fricka counters that the Volsungs not only committed adultery, but incest, as well. His defense of the lovers infuriates Fricka, who reminds him that he disgraced the Gods by betraying his own marriage— not only did he sire Siegmund and Sieglinde with a mortal women, but also has nine Valkyrie daughters, Brunhilde included, with Erda, the Goddess of Wisdom.  She demands that he not protect Siegmund in his battle against Hunding, either by the magic sword or by Brunhilde’s intervention. He argues that he only sired Siegmund so there would be a mortal, independent hero to redeem the Gods. Angrily, she responds that there is no way to get around Alberich’s curse (Alberich has made a ring out of magic gold which allows the bearer to rule the world), especially through more deceit. He is powerless to her and agrees that he will not help his son.

Bru?^nnhilde returns to her dejected father who proceeds to tell her of his moral dilemma and the events that have caused it. He tells her that they must
follow Fricka’s instructions, although the death of Siegmund means grave consequences for the Gods. Both Alberich the dwarf and Wotan have sired human sons with the hope that one will steal back the Ring of Gold and the magic Tarnheln helmet from the giant Fafner. If Alberich is successful, he will steal the Ring and use
its power to bring about the downfall of the Gods. Unfortunately, Wotan must yield to Fricka’s demands and orders Brunhilde to do the same. Brunhilde tries to argue with her father but he is resolute and warns her that she will face extreme punishment if she helps Siegmund. He disappears into the mountains and Brunhilde wanders off upon seeing the arrival of Siegmund and Sieglinde.

Sieglinde is in hysterics and overcome with guilt about the upcoming battle. She imagines that Hunding’s bloodhounds have surrounded them and sees Siegmund fall. Siegmund tries to calm her down and she manages to fall asleep in his arms. Bru?^nnhilde appears as if in a vision to Siegmund and warns him that his
sword’s magic powers have been removed and she will soon take him to Valhalla. Siegmund receives the news calmly but when he learns that Sieglinde may not come, he vehemently refuses. Siegmund declares that he would rather go to the nether regions and kill himself and Sieglinde so that they may be together, rather than be parted from her. Brunhilde is moved by his emphatic love for Sieglinde
and decides to help him, even though it means risking the wrath of Wotan, and rides off swiftly.  Hunding’s battle horn is heard rapidly approaching. Siegmund draws his sword, ready and confident in the battle ahead. Sieglinde awakens amidst the thunder and lightning and watches the unfolding scene in terror.
Siegmund mocks Hunding as being the rightful owner of the sword from the ash-tree and Brunhilde hovers over the battlefield, ready to intervene. Suddenly, Wotan appears holding his spear between the two men, causing Siegmund’s sword to shatter. This leaves him defenseless against Hunding, who kills him. Brunhilde
rushes to care for Sieglinde who has fainted in despair. She gathers up the fragments of Siegmund’s shattered sword, takes Sieglinde in her arms and fl ees on horseback from Wotan. Overcome with grief at the sight of his dead son, Wotan kills Hunding with a wave of his hand. He curses Brunhilde for her disobedience and sets out to punish her for disobeying his will.

Act III  A wild landscape at the summit of a rocky mountain

The Valkyrie sisters are preparing to bring slain heroes to Valhalla. They greet each other joyously, shouting their exciting battle cry, until they realize that one, Brunhilde, is missing. When she does appear, they are shocked to see that she carries a woman. Brunhilde begs her sisters for help, telling them that Wotan
pursues her because of the aid she gave to Siegmund, but the Valkyries fear Wotan and they refuse to lend her a horse. Sieglinde awakens and cries out for her slain love. She begs for death, but Brunhilde reveals to her that she is pregnant with Siegmund’s child. This news transforms Sieglinde and she is overcome with joy. Bru?^nnhilde tells Sieglinde that she will be safe from Wotan deep in the forest, near the cave where the giant Fafner (now transformed into a dragon) guards the hoard of Gold. She also gives Sieglinde the remnants of the magic sword telling her to save them for her child who will one day be the most noble of heroes.

Grateful to her savior, Sieglinde obeys and runs off. Wotan arrives on the scene and demands to see Brunhilde. The Valkyries try to dissuade him but he threatens that anyone who helps her will share her fate. Brunhilde bravely steps forward and asks for her sentence. Wotan responds that she has chosen her own fate: she will no longer seek fallen heroes for Valhalla, she will be stripped of her godly powers and she will serve a mortal husband, victim to the fi rst man who finds her. Her sisters fl ee from Wotan leaving the two alone.  Brunhilde turns sadly to her father. She timidly appeals to him, explaining that she protected Siegmund because she believed that was what Wotan really wanted. She feels that she was obeying his subconscious will and asks if it was so shameful to do so. Wotan recognizes her intentions but will not relent: he will put her to sleep and she will belong to the first man who fi nds her.

Brunhilde protest and begs Wotan to surround her with fl ames so that only the bravest of men will be able to save her. Wotan’s anger dissolves and he wishes his beloved daughter a sad farewell. He then calls on Loge, the God of Fire to send the fl ames to encircle the rock where Brunhilde lies. Wotan calls out a final pronouncement: “May no one who fears my spear’s point ever step through this fi re!” Overcome with grief, he disappears.