Wagner

Die Walküre

Nilsson, Adam, Jones, King, Baldani, Moll; Sawallisch
München, 1976

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Die Walküre

This performance of Die Walküre is a fascinating companion to the 1976 Ring Cycle we released a couple of weeks ago. In that set, Birgit Nilsson opted out of the Walküre, and I had assumed it was because she might have been afraid of the "Hojotohos"—but this recording, also from 1976, proves that theory wrong. In fact, she sounds incredibly fresh throughout, while finding an even deeper emotional connection to the Act III duet with Wotan. Despite being eight years younger than Nilsson, Theo Adam manages to project fatherly warmth as Wotan. After having established herself as the Brünnhilde of the day, Gwyneth Jones makes a return to the role of Sieglinde, and this performance finds her at her greatest. Wolfgang Sawallisch paces the evening with great care, and

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David R.✓ Top Reviewer

United States

Overall rating

Great Performance. Uneven Sound!

All of the participants in this performance live up to their considerable reputations. Nilsson was pushing 60, but except for some effortful "Ho-jo-to-jo"s, you'd never guess it. King and Jones are terrific Wälsung twins (she gives a terrifying scream when Siegmund is killed at the end of Act Two), Moll sounds intimidating and yet beautiful as Hunding, Baldani imperious as Fricka, and Adam was having a very good night as Wotan, the vibrato steadier than it could be. The Walküren are an excellent bunch and Sawallisch shows again what a fine opera conductor he was.The caveat is about the sound. Andy mentions above that it is excellent. Well, yes, when the singers are on the side of the stage where the tapist is. When they're not, the voices are recessed. Unfortunately, Adam is off mic for most of Act Three. Nilsson is off mic for the entire Todesverkündigung. Both singers can be heard, of course, but it's a little disappointing when the sound otherwise is so good. The tapist also gets a bit fidgety now and then and rustles the mic around. I suspect this might be drawn from a tape made in the wings; there are also a few quick dropouts, probably where the tape had to be turned over.A worthy performance then in uneven sound.
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David R.✓ Top Reviewer

United States

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Complete Cast List

Wagner: Die WalkureMay 2, 1976Wotan: Theo AdamSiegmund: James KingHunding: Kurt MollBrünnhilde: Birgit NilssonSieglinde: Gwyneth JonesFricka: Ruza BaldaniHelmwige: Annelie WaasOrtlinde: Antonia FahbergGerhilde: Doris LinserWaltraute: Charlotte BertholdSiegrune: Dagmar NaafGrimgerde: Liliana NetschewaRossweise: Gudrun WewezowSchwertleite: Margarethe BenceBavarian State Opera OrchestraWolfgang Sawallisch, conductor
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