- 14 mintypische Länge
- 16. Juni 2022letzte Folge
Can someone whisper Die Walküre in your ear? With opera, you do not think of whispers or sighs but of strong classical voices in grand, spectacular set pieces. But the composer and game designer David Kanaga has turned Richard Wagner’s famous opera into a podcast. In Die Walküre, the second part of Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen, the supreme god Wotan punishes his daughter Brünnhilde for not following his orders. He makes her mortal and locks her up in a mountain surrounded by fire. While closely following Wagner’s notes and storyline, Kanaga’s background in the world of gaming can be heard in his use of electronic instruments and sound effects full of humour, drama and mysticism. The parts are sung by an atypical cast, ranging from classically trained vocalists like Claron McFadden to the demonic voice artist Attila Csihar – sung to be listened to on headphones rather than in an opera house. The result is intimate, light and less domineering than the original. One might even say: soft. A warm narrating voice turns Wagner’s stage instructions into a magical radio play in which the entire drama takes place in listeners’ imagination.Each of the three acts of Die Walküre will be divided into several podcast episodes for Soft Valkyrie. The episodes of the first act will be released on June 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th. The episodes of the second and third acts will follow later.
Folgen
Episode 16 - Farewell, Magic Fire (Act 3)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie. Brunnhilde, resigned to disappear into her coma, begged Wotan to at least surround her with a magic fire that will scare away everyday adventurers so that only the most fearless of heroes might manage to awaken
Episode 15 – Twilight Part 2 (Act 3)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie, Brunnhilde explained herself further to Wotan, first asking for his mercy, but eventually proudly embracing her decision and fate, with no regrets. She has helped save the Walsung family, by sending Sieglinde an
Episode 14 – Twilight Part 1 (Act 3)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie. After Wotan threw a fit on discovering that Brunnhilde’s eight sisters were hiding her from him, she finally willingly came forward to submit to his punishments. He explained his plan– to put her into a deep com
Episode 13 – Wotan’s Rage, etc. (Act 3)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie. Brunhilde arrived at the Valkyrie’s rock, where her sisters were gathering with corpses of heroes to bring to Valhalla, Wotan’s debt-plagued palace of death. She asked for someone to help with Sieglinde, who exi
Episode 12 – The Other Valkyries (Act 3)
Welcome back to Soft Valkyrie. We’ve just left the scene of battle, where Wotan was flying into a rage at Brunnhilde’s disobedience. Now, look off to the horizon. See that peak out there? T hat’s where Brunhilde’s sisters, the other Valkyri
Episode 11 – Battle! (Act 2)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie. Siegmund met Brunhilde, who came bearing bad news at first. A noble death dialog ensued. But no sooner had Siegmund valiantly threatened to murder his new sister-bride so as to meet her in Valhalla when he died,
Episode 10 – The Annunciation of Death (Act 2)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie. Sieglinde and Siegmund were shown in a terrible mood far from the erotic bliss of their innocent foray into brother-sister cuckoldry. They realize what they’ve done, and what fate awaits them when they are disco
Episode 9 – Brother & Sister, the Morning After (Act 2)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie. Wotan confessed the end of his backstory to Brunhilde, and passed on to her the bad news that she must not help Siegmund. Rather she must lead him to his death. Wotan left, leaving Brunhilde alone, whence she to
Episode 8 – Wolf’s Lore 2 (Act 2)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie. Wotan began to describe his backstory to Brunhilde. We learn of Alberich’s theft of the Rhinegold, of the laborer Fafner’s departure with the gold in the form of a dragon, and of Wotan’s desire to kill him which
Episode 7 – Wolf’s Lore 1 (Act 2)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie. We learned that Fricka is none too happy about this incestuous cuckoldry. In her sovereignty as the god of marriage, she has elicited a commitment from Wotan not to help Siegmund during the coming battle. Instea
Episode 6 – Fricka (Act 2)
Previously on Soft Valkyrie, Wotan had a brief meeting with his daughter, the Valkyrie Brunhilde. No sooner had he commanded her to aid Siegmund in the coming battle with Hunding, the great god’s wife arrived with a different plan. Click he
Episode 5 – Wotan & Brunhilde (Act 2)
When we left off, Siegmund and Sieglinde had just embarked on their incestuous adventure, leaving behind Sieglinde’s cuckolded husband Hunding to wake up to the bad news at dawn. We've since walked several miles from the forest of Hunding's
Episode 4 - Kisses in the Night (Act 1)
Episode 4: Kisses in the Night Siegmund, all alone and desperate, discovers the sword his father had left for him in the ash tree. With her husband Hunding fast asleep, Sieglinde re-enters the room. The two indulge in their incestuous desir
Episode 3 - No Escape (Act 1)
Hunding jumps up and reveals that he knows that Siegmund is not just any guest. He is the man Hunding and his crew had been chasing. He offers him one night of repose under his roof, and announces to fight him the following morning. Note: t
Episode 2 - The Master of the House (Act 1)
Hunding arrives home. Unhappy to find a stranger there with his wife and brimming with suspicion, he embarks on an intense interrogation of his guest. Note: to hear Soft Valkyrie with live English, German or Dutch subtitles, please go to Yo
Episode 1 - Familiar Strangers (Act 1)
Note: to hear Soft Valkyrie with live English, German or Dutch subtitles, please go to Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlwwwdSf_kWbNbEh0cBFPE38k7TvBzNQL). Click here forthe full-score (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Q_3bc
Trailer
Trailer for Soft Valkyrie, a contemporary podcast version of Richard Wagner's Die Walküre - commissioned by Holland Festival, Staatsoper Hannover and Dutch National Opera. First episode coming June 3rd!
