LEINSDORF Wagner Ring Cycle: 4. Götterdämmerung (1962, Met) - PACO156

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overviewfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fWAGNER Der Ring Des Nibelungen: 4. Götterdämmerung Live broadcast performance, 1962Total duration: 4hr 05:15 (includes radio announcements) Siegfried - Hans HopfBrünnhilde - Birgit NilssonGunther - Norman MittelmannGutrune - Gladys KuchtaHagen - Gottlob FrickWaltraute - Irene DalisAlberich - Ralph Herbert Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorusconducted by Erich Leinsdorf578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_titlefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_quotefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_bodyfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9main_samplefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fsamples/PACO156.mp3578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fProducer's Note578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fOver a period of six weeks, in December 1961 and January 1962, the Met broadcast its first completely uncut presentation of Wagner’sDer Ring des Nibelungen, culminating with this performance of Götterdämmerung. This massive work, the longest of the four opera that comprise the Ring Cycle, continues to introduce new characters to the story, as well as the chorus, the only time they are heard in the cycle. Among the new characters is Hagen, son of Alberich and half-brother to Gunther, King of the Gibichungs, and his sister Gutrune. It is Hagen that drives the plot of the opera, by scheming and treachery, in order to win the ring for himself. Siegfried may have ended with the jubilant union of Brünnhilde and Siegfried, but Götterdämmerung quickly unravels all that happiness. After another rapturous duet, gloriously sung by Birgit Nilsson and Hans Hopf, Brünnhilde sends Siegfried off on new adventures, unwittingly setting up the final demise of the Gods and Valhalla. Siegfried encounters Hagen and the Gibichung siblings, only to be tricked by Hagen into drinking a potion that makes him forget Brünnhilde and fall in love with Gutrune. Siegfried asks for Gutrune’s hand in marriage and offers to win the former warrior-maiden Brünnhilde as a wife for Gunther. By Act 2, after being forced by Siegfried to follow him to the Hall of the Gibichungs, Hagen facilitates Brünnhilde’s discovery of the betrayal and joins in a plot for vengeance with a hesitant Gunther. Brünnhilde reveals Siegfried’s only vulnerability to them: his back, which he would never turn on an enemy. In Act 3, Hagen takes advantage of this knowledge (after restoring Siegfried’s memory of Brünnhilde) by killing Siegfried’s using his supposed betrayal of Gunther as the reason for the murder. Brünnhilde finally becomes aware of Hagen’s treachery and taking the ring from the dead Siegfried’s hand, rides into his funeral pyre on her horse, Grane. After dragging Hagen to his death in the depths of the Rhine, the Rhinemaidens retrieve the ring, which restores peace to the world. Of course, the plot is rather more complicated and intricate than this short summary allows for, but the score, being a masterpiece of leitmotifs, reminds the careful listener of plot lines stretching back to the very beginning of the entire cycle. Reprising their roles from the previous operas are, in addition to Nilsson and Hopf, Ralph Herbert as Alberich and Martina Arroyo, Rosalind Elias and Mignon Dunn as the Rhinemaidens (Arroyo also sings the Third Norn in this performance). Other soloists return in new roles. Irene Dalis, Fricka in both Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, appears as the Second Norn and as Waltraute, who comes to seek her sister’s help trying to convince her to return the ring to the Rhinemaidens. Gladys Kuchta, previously heard as Sieglinde in Die Walküre, now assumes the other demurely feminine role in the Ring, Gutrune. Norman Mittlemann, Donner in Das Rheingold is now our Gunther and Jean Madeira, our Erda in Das Rheingold and Siegfried is heard as the First Norn. Most significantly, Gottlob Frick, briefly heard off-stage in Siegfried as Fafner, now assumes the role of Hagen, with his cavernous, black-hued sound. His is a powerfully malevolent characterization, in total command of everyone he comes into contact with. All told this is a cast of the highest international calibre, such as could be heard in Bayreuth and other leading opera houses in the early 1960s. Hopf gives us some lovely wistful singing as he recalls his love for Brünnhilde in Act 3 and lastly, Nilsson continues to amaze with her gleaming voice and laser-like high notes. She is frighteningly vengeful in Act 2, yet recaptures Brünnhilde’s nobility in a stirring account of the Immolation Scene at the end of the opera. Erich Leinsdorf once again elicits lustrous playing from the orchestra, particularly in the extended orchestral interludes of Siegfried’s Rhine Journey and Funeral March. At the end of the opera, fittingly, it is the orchestra that informs us that Valhalla has fallen and the Rhine has risen to reclaim the gold, ending Wagner’s epic saga. 578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFull Track Listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5ftrack_listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fLEINSDORF Wagner Ring Cycle: 4. Götterdämmerung (1962, Met) WAGNER Der Ring Des Nibelungen: 4. Götterdämmerung1. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Prologue — Welch Licht leuchtet dort_ (7:32)2. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Prologue — Treu beratner Verträge Runen (2:09)3. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Prologue — Es ragt die Burg, von Riesen gebaut (7:51)4. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Prologue — Zu neuen Taten, teurer Helde (6:29)5. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Prologue — Willst du mir Minne schenken (5:30)6. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Prologue — O heilige Götter! (2:34)7. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Prologue — Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt (5:26)8. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene I: Nun hör', Hagen (2:12)9. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene I: Wen rätst du nun zu frein (7:06)10. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene I: Jagt er auf Taten wonnig umher (3:29)11. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene II: Wer ist Gibichs Sohn_ (1:56)12. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene II: Begrüße froh, o Held (3:23)13. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene II: Willkommen, Gast, in Gibichs Haus! (3:21)14. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene II: Deinem Bruder bot ich mich zum Mann (4:20)15. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene II: Blühenden Lebens labendes Blut (3:53)16. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene II: Frisch auf die Fahrt! (2:32)17. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene II: Hier sitz' ich zur Wacht (9:54)18. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene III: Altgewohntes Geräusch (7:08)19. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene III: Höre mit Sinn, was ich dir sage! (9:13)20. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene III: Welch' banger Träume Mären (6:47)21. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene III: Was leckt so wütend (1:41)22. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act I, Scene III: Brünnhild'! Ein Freier kam (8:08)23. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II: Vorspiel (2:14)24. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene I: Schäfst du, Hagen, mein Sohn! (7:45)25. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene II — Hoiho, Hagen! Müder Mann! (2:06)26. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene II — Heiß' mich wilkommen, Gibichskind! (3:25)27. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene III — Hoiho! Hoihohoho! (7:49)28. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene IV — Heil dir, Gunther! (2:38)29. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene IV — Gegrüßt sei, teurer Held (3:31)30. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene IV — Einen Ring sah ich an deiner Hand (2:59)31. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene IV — Heil'ge Götter, himmlische Lenker! (5:11)32. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene IV — Helle Wehr! Heilige Waffe! (2:45)33. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene IV — Gunther, Wehr' deinem Weibe (3:07)34. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene V — Welches Unholds List liegt hier werhohlen! (3:27)35. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene V — Vertraue mir, betrog'ne Frau! (2:58)36. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act II, Scene V — Auf, Gunther, edler Gibichung! (7:35)37. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III: Vorspiel (2:01)38. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene I: Frau Sonne sendet lichte Strahlen (4:05)39. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene I: Ein Albe führte mich irr (3:26)40. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene I: Was leid' ich doch das karge Lob! (1:15)41. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene I: Siegfried! Siegfried! Siegfried! (7:32)42. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene II: Hoiho! (3:49)43. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene II: Trink', Gunther, trink'! (2:11)44. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene II: Mime hiess ein mürrischer Zwerg (4:21)45. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene II: In Leid zu dem Wipfel lauscht' ich hinauf (4:39)46. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene II: Brünnhilde! Heilige Braut! (4:45)47. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene II: Trauermusik beim Tode Siegfrieds (5:57)48. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene III: War das sein Horn! (1:55)49. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene III: Hoiho! Hoiho! (2:07)50. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene III: Nicht klage wider mich! (1:35)51. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene III: Schweigt eures Jammers (3:14)52. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene III: Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort (7:51)53. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene III: Mein Erbe nun nehm' ich zu eigen (2:19)54. Wagner: Götterdämmerung Act III, Scene III: Fliegt heim, ihr Raben! (7:23) 55. RADIO Ending (4:47) CAST Siegfried - Hans HopfBrünnhilde - Birgit NilssonGunther - Norman MittelmannGutrune - Gladys KuchtaHagen - Gottlob FrickWaltraute - Irene DalisAlberich - Ralph HerbertFirst Norn - Jean MadeiraSecond Norn - Irene DalisThird Norn - Martina ArroyoWoglinde - Martina ArroyoWellgunde - Rosalind EliasFlosshilde - Mignon DunnVassal - Charles KuestnerVassal - John Trehy Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorusconducted by Erich Leinsdorf XR remastering by Andrew RoseCover artwork based on a photograph of Birgit Nilsson as Brünnhilde and Hans Hopf as Siegfried against a detail from Josef Hoffman's 1876 set designsLive broadcast from New York Metropolitan Opera House, 27 January, 1962 Total duration: 4hr 05:15 Opera duration: 4hr 00:28578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fCover Art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcover_art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers/thumbs/PACO156.jpg578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers/PACO156.pdf578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f Show more