Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Lothar Zagrosek, Staatsorchester Stuttgart :: Wagner: Die Walküre

Passionate Walkure by Zagrosek, don't dismiss it!

Janos Gardonyi | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 11/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We all know that this performance is part of the famous, or infamous, Stuttgart Ring where four different directors undertook the task to "deconstruct' Wagner, bringing it to the modern era with rather controversial results.

In spite of the above, the music comes out unscathed as it is proven by this extraordinary, vivid live performance. Lothar Zagrosek is mostly responsible for its success. He conducts with swift speeds, with a grand vision of the work and paces it so well that there is not only a great deal of excitement but also much beautiful lyricism and expansion when required.

I've rarely felt so much frission and newfelt joy from this well known work.

The singers' emphasis on clarity, elocution, delivery and empathy to Wagner's text also have to be emphasized. Perhaps the strongest member of the cast is Robert Gambill, as Siegmund, a strong Heldentenor but with an unusual and appealing vulnerability in his voice that sets him apart from other Wagner tenors. With Angela Denoke, a passionate and beautifully sung Sieglinde, they make a wonderful pair of Walsung twins.Unfortunately some vibrato is manifest in Denoke's delivery. I've always been a great fan of hers, but she is not getting any younger.

Jan-Hendrik Rootering makes a remarkably strong voiced, tireless and frightening Wotan and Renate Behle a sympathetic Brunnhilde though with less even vocal power. Attila Jun is a stentorian basso, very strong in the deep registers and Tichina Vaughn a Fricka beyond compare.

Excellent stereo with good separation and with bargain basement price how can you go wrong? Very much recommended.







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