November 01. 2017 - November 30. 2017

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November 01. 2017 - November 30. 2017

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New Production Die Walküre

After the triumph of Das Rheingold in 2016/17, Lyric continues the thrilling journey through Wagner’s monumental Ring cycle with Die Walküre. This is the most deeply moving and romantic of all the Ringoperas. Its riveting, devastating drama involves complex relationships between brother and sister, husband and wife, father and daughter. Every character is unforgettable—valiant Siegmund and Sieglinde, headstrong Brünnhilde and mighty, tortured Wotan, determined Fricka and vengeful Hunding. Wagner’s music drama burns itself on our memories, exciting us with the emotional intensity of its lyrical outbursts and its incredible power and majesty.

Language: Sung in German with projected English translations
Running Time: 4 hours, 55 minutes with 2 intermissions
Location: Lyric Opera House

Die Walküre videos

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See what critics are saying about Die Walküre at Lyric Opera

After the triumph of Das Rheingold in 2016/17, Lyric continues the thrilling journey through Wagner’s monumental Ring cycle with Die Walküre.

Wagner's Die Walküre at Lyric Opera of Chicago

After the triumph of Das Rheingold in 2016/17, Lyric continues the thrilling journey through Wagner’s monumental Ring cycle with Die Walküre.

Second City's Jesse Case Invites you to Wagner's Die Walküre

Second City's Jesse Case is here to break down some of the reasons why Lyric Opera's new production of Wagner's Die Walküre is a larger-than-life entertainment experience that you can't miss.

Director David Pountney talks about the key relationships in Die Walküre

The creative team behind Die Walküre talks about its emotional draw.

Christine Goerke on the Character of Brünnhilde

Lyric's Brünnhilde, Christine Goerke, talks about what she loves about playing this character. Catch Christine in the most epic heroine of all-time in Lyric's production of Wagner's Die Walküre.

Lyric's Brünnhilde, Christine Goerke, talks about the music of Wagner.

Lyric's Brünnhilde, Christine Goerke, talks about the music of Wagner and why you will never experience anything quite like it.

Die Walküre

By Richard Wagner

Warner Classics label — Poul Elming, John Tomlinson, Eva-Maria Bundschuh, Hitomi Katagiri, Shirley Close, Ruth Florean, Eva Johansson, Hebe Dijkstra, Birgitta Svendén; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, cond. Daniel Barenboim.
Musical excerpts provided through a generous arrangement with Warner Classics, Official Education and Promotion Music Provider for Lyric Opera of Chicago.

“Winterstürme”

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Ride of the Valkyries

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Wotan's Farewell

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Die Walküre

By Richard Wagner

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

© 2017/18 Lyric Opera Commentaries Original sound recordings of musical excerpts used by permission of Warner Music Group. All rights reserved. Recording and production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women’s Board

Commentary by Anthony Freud in collaboration with Nicholas Ivor Martin

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Commentary by Colin Ure

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Die Walküre articles

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What You Need and Want to Know about Die Walküre

Here are some things you may want to know as you anticipate your Die Walküre.experience.

Lyric's New Production of Die Walküre Thrills and Astonishes

Our brand-new production of the most famous and most human of Wagner's Ring operas opened to great acclaim. Here's a sampling of the accolades.

Synopsis

Siegmund, son of the god Wotan, is a fugitive and arrives at the house of the beautiful Sieglinde, where he thinks he has found refuge. The two discover a deep love for each other, but the only way for them to be together is for Siegmund to challenge Seiglinde’s husband to a fight to the death. Filled with devastating drama and enthralling music, Die Walküre explores the complex relationships of brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and fathers and daughters in a new production that is both musically and visually stunning.

Siegmund seeks shelter in Hunding's home. Sieglinde, Hunding’s wife, looks after him. Siegmund tells Hunding of his boyhood: his mother was killed and his twin sister abducted. His father raised him as a lone warrior, and then vanished. Siegmund reveals that is seeking shelter, having supported a young woman whom kinsmen were forcing into a loveless marriage. After slaying several of her oppressors, he was disarmed, wounded, and put to flight. Hunding declares that the fallen were his own kinsmen, and that he will exact vengeance the following day. The sacred vows of hospitality, however, protect his guest that night.

Siegmund recalls his father's promise that he would find a sword in his hour of need. Sieglinde reveals that she has drugged Hunding with a sleeping draft, and shows Siegmund a sword buried to the hilt in the ash tree that grows through Hunding’s house. A stranger, whom Sieglinde recognized as her father, had appeared at her wedding feast and plunged the sword into the tree, promising it would belong to anyone who could withdraw it. So far, everyone has failed this challenge.

Suddenly moonlight floods the room. Greeting the spring, Siegmund declares that fate sent him to rescue Sieglinde and claim her as his bride. She recognizes him as her brother, and names him “Siegmund”. He pulls out the sword and names it “Nothung” (“Need”) and the ecstatic twins become lovers.
Scene 1.

Brünnhilde, Wotan's favorite Valkyrie daughter, greets her father. He commands her to defend Siegmund in his duel with Hunding.

Fricka, goddess of marriage and Wotan’s wife, demands that he cease protecting the incestuous lovers, and that marital propriety must be upheld. Wotan is reluctantly forced to yield: the gods cannot survive if they ignore the sacred laws on which their power rests. When Brünnhilde returns, Wotan explains the long history of the ring. He had intended that Siegmund would recapture the ring, but that is now impossible; Wotan is reduced to awaiting the end of his supremacy, which Erda predicted would follow the birth of Alberich’s son. Wotan bitterly instructs Brünnhilde to ensure Hunding's triumph over Siegmund. When the Valkyrie protests, her father threatens her with severe punishment should she disobey.

Scene 2.

Overcome by shame and fear, Sieglinde begs her brother to leave her. Siegmund is confident of victory over Hunding. Sieglinde's terror increases as she has a premonition of Siegmund’s death.

Brünnhilde appears to Siegmund as the messenger of death, and tells him that she will escort him to Valhalla. When he learns that Sieglinde cannot accompany him, Siegmund scorns the heroes’ paradise. He prepares to kill Sieglinde and himself, to preserve their union in death. Deeply moved, Brünnhilde promises to aid Siegmund in battle.

Siegmund confronts Hunding. Brünnhilde manages to protect him until Wotan appears, shattering Siegmund's sword and enabling Hunding to kill him. Brünnhilde flees with Sieglinde, and the fragments of the sword. Having kept his promise to Fricka, Wotan contemptuously slays Hunding and swears to punish Brünnhilde.
The Valkyries assemble. Brünnhilde begs her sisters to save Sieglinde from Wotan’s wrath. The Valkyries tell her that Wotan does not go near the forest that shelters Fafner, the giant, who has transformed himself into a dragon to guard his treasure. Brünnhilde reveals that the life of Siegmund’s unborn son depends on Sieglinde’s survival. Ecstatic, Sieglinde sets off for the forest alone, taking with her only the shattered fragments of the sword, “Nothung.”

The Valkyries flee from Wotan’s wrath. He condemns Brünnhilde to be put to sleep on the Valkyrie rock, defenseless against the first man who claims her as his wife. Brünnhilde explains that she disobeyed only Wotan’s words, not his true desire. She asks to be surrounded by a fire that only a fearless hero can penetrate. Wotan grants her request and, bidding her a heartbroken farewell, he kisses her eyes and lets her sink into a deep sleep. When he calls for Loge, the demigod of fire, a sea of flames encircles the mountain. Declaring that anyone who fears his spear will never step through the fire, Wotan disappears.
In the Ring cycle’s prologue, Das Rheingold, Alberich steals the Rhinemaidens’ gold and forges it into a ring giving him supreme power. Wotan, the chief god, captures Alberich and steals the ring, but Alberich places a curse on it until it is restored to its rightful owner. Wotan is forced to give the ring to the giants Fasolt and Fafner as payment for building the gods’ fortress, Valhalla. The curse immediately reveals its power: Fafner kills his brother and keeps the ring himself. The gods enter Valhalla, apparently in triumph.

Knowing that without the ring, this triumph is ephemeral, Wotan sires two mortal children, Siegmund and Sieglinde, in the hope of creating an independent hero, unbound by the contracts that limit his freedom of action, who can win back the ring. But he cannot resist participating in their fate, so fatally compromising their independence. As further insurance, he sires nine Valkyries with the earth-goddess Erda, whose task is to recruit fallen heroes to defend Valhalla.

Program book

Go inside this production of Die Walküre with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

View Digital Program Book

Meet the artists

Christine Goerke

Brünnhilde

American soprano Christine Goerke's Lyric credits include Brunhilde/Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|18). Her many awards include the Richard Tucker Award, the Musical America Vocalist of the Year Award, and the Opera News Award.

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Elisabet Strid

Sieglinde

Elisabet Strid made her Lyric debut as Sieglinde/Die Walküre (2017|18)

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Tanja Ariane Baumgartner

Fricka

Tanja Ariane Baumgartner's Lyric credits include Fricka/Die Walküre (2017|18) and Das Rheingold (2016|17)

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Brandon Jovanovich

Siegmund

Brandon Jovanovich is a renowned American tenor who has performed many roles at Lyric Opera or Chicago.

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Eric Owens

Wotan

American bass-baritone Eric Owens's Lyric credits include eight roles since 2007/08.

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Ain Anger

Hundig

Bass Ain Anger made his Lyric debut as Hundig/Die Walküre (2017|18)

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Whitney Morrison

Gerhilde

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Whitney Morrison, the soprano, a Chicago native and a Ryan Opera Center alumna, has triumphed in multiple roles at Lyric.

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Alexandra LoBianco

Helmwige

Soprano Alexandra LoBianco's Lyric credits include Fourth Maid/Elektra (2018|19); Helmwige/Die Walküre (2017|18).

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Laura Wilde

Ortlinde

Ryan Opera Center alumna

Ryan Opera Center alumna Laura Wilde's Lyric credits include Ortlinde/Die Walküre (2017|18).

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Catherine Martin

Waltraute

Catherine Martin's Lyric credits include Eva Crowley/An American Dream (2018|19) and Waltraute/Die Walküre (2017|18).

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Deborah Nansteel

Siegrunde

American mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel's Lyric credits include Suzuki/Madama Butterfly (2019|20).

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Lindsay Ammann

Rossweisse

American mezzosoprano Lindsay Ammann's Lyric credits include Rossweisse/Die Walküre (2017|18).

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Zanda Švēde

Grimgerde

Latvian mezzo-soprano Zanda Švēde made her Lyric debut as Maddalena/Rigoletto (2017|18)

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Lauren Decker

Schwertleite

Ryan Opera Center Ensemble

Contralto Lauren Decker, a four-year member of the Ryan Opera Center, was a national semifinalist in the 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

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Sir Andrew Davis

Conductor

Sir Andrew Davis served as music director and principal conductor of Lyric Opera of Chicago from 2000 through the 2020/21 Season.

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David Pountney

Director

Director David Pountney's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|18). He is both a CBE and a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, has the Cavalier’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, and was awarded the Ehrenkreuz des Bundes Österreich in 2014.

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Johan Engels

Original Set Designer

Set designer Johan Engles' Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|10) and Die Walkure (2017|18).

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Robert Innes Hopkins

Set Designer

British Set Designer Robert Innes Hopkins's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|18).

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Marie-Jeanne Lecca

Costume Designer

Costume designer Marie-Jeanne Lecca's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|19).

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Fabrice Kebour

Lighting Designer

Lighting designer Fabrice Kebour's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|19). Kebour has received three Molière Award nominations and one Welsh Theatre Award nomination for best lighting design.

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Denni Sayers

Choreographer

Choreographer Denni Sayers's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|19).

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