Die Walküre - End of Act I - Siegmund heiss' ich

[soon2BAODA]

Upon much research I found evidence that Wagner and Nietzsche were friends. So… we have Nietzsche, Wagner, Hitler and possibly, JRR Tolkien, (though Tolkien denies the link with Nibelungenlied, Hitler, or racism charges), an intergenerational transmission of hatred.

[vasiliynikitich]

Тьфу

[Chateaubriand26]

Je trouve que la version du Met a beaucoup de faiblesses. D'une part le chef d'orchestre, James Levine, qui n'est pas vraiment un Wagnerien, et donc la musique est un peu fanfreluche ; et puis les chanteurs, c'est pas à la hauteur des enregistrements de Solti ou de Furtwängler. Enfin, l'orchestre du Met ne doit pas être complet. Le Ring sans effectif total de l'orchestre, c'est de la musique de chambre. Il y a des adeptes, je n'en suis pas un. Boulez me semble plus adequat.

[sahandaman]

SUCH a fantastic production!

[bronxbearbud]

Then again, you have to wonder how Wagner himself would have felt about a black person (let alone a Jew) singing one of his operas....

[BOOLsheet]

can i ask a frank question: how many of you actually know what youre listening to and how many of you are pretending?

[UlfenDaddy]

@BOOLsheet LOL, a good clue about that is often the character of the comment itself. Those who attact others' person, education and intellect because they DARE have a different opinion regarding an artistic performance might be an important indicator of that very thing.

[rumpwrestler]

I'll go with Rysanek any day!

[wTrevorh]

I love Die Walkure!! It's always entertaining. Wonderful performance by both!! I do think that it is about time the Opera world sees more diversity in hiring performers, whether they're of Asian, African, or any other ethnic origin. I understand that opera is a direct representation of European culture, but, indeed it's time to also have other non-European actors involved in order to make the art-form and the experience of it, more welcoming to all. If other genres can do it, so can Opera!

[117CamBam]

Uhh, norsemen aren't black. That's not racist btw.

[bcom11]

@117CamBam uhhh...sure it is....in terms of you making that comment in regards to an operatic production.

[bcom11]

@117CamBam um shut the hell up. shes phenomenal, get over it. this is a mixed world full of all different kinds of people in the same places.

[bcom11]

@117CamBam ignorant closed-minded people like you that hold humanity back.

[117CamBam]

@bcom11 She should at least put make-up on. When white people play black characters they put on makeup. I mean, what's the point of making a production if you're going to ignore things like that? Mine as well just record the audio and not bother getting dressed up at all.

[federricoilgrande]

Ambedue pesanti, lui non ha voce per Siegmund, lei è troppo la Norman, purtroppo i veri wagneriani non esistono più ed il faut faire avec....

[viorodriguez]

One of the most exciting moments in all opera!!!

[Operaddict]

One of the most exciting moments in all opera...and these two do it complete justice. It gives me goosepimples every time I listen to them pouring their hearts out. Bravi!

[65attila]

To sing this magnificent difficult music requires super voices technique and stamina and putting over the drama. This was a wonderful performance and that is all that matters. Do people who get their noses wrinkled because Lakes and Norman do not look like siblings get nutso because most great Salomes do NOT look like 14 year olds? I bet not.

Should Norman never sing the role unless the Sigmund is black? Besides Lotte lehmann and Lauritz Melchior did not look like twins either ?

.

[SaensX]

You should be able to put your head in her mouth when she says "Sieeeeegmund"!! She's astonishing ! Her volume doubles before she throw this note !

[layne867]

Gary Lakes isn't as good as Norman, c' mon. Plus, remember the basis of the Gesamtkunstwerk: drama is as important as music.

[layne867]

So, enjoy them, there's nothing wrong with that. God. You're making this a racist issue just because someone doesn't think the way you do -at least, that's the way I see it. I happen to enjoy this video too (I uploaded it, didn't I?), I just don't think that Lakes is good enough to be up there with Norman in the freaking Met.

Anyway, I'm done with this conversation.

[langleywil]

I didn't make the racist comments. Someone else did. He said "Aren't Sigmund and Seiglinde supposed to be brother and sister?" Their implication was that a black opera singer must have a black counterpoint. I happen to enjoy this scene and both performers. I've been a HUGE fan of Jessye Norman for as long as I can remember. So don't get all bitchy with me! LOL. I'm not the one that laid into the scene with such hate and venom. You want to attack someone, go after AfroPoli.

[layne867]

While I think that people shouldn't insult each other just because they don't agree on a specific subject, I don't think that pointing out the fact that Sieglinde and Sigmund are supposed to be twin brothers is racist -it's just, in my opinion, a question of bad casting. Why don't, for the sake of plausibility, cast a black heldentenor as Siegmund? Come to think about it, that would be an awesome idea.

[cantanteporsiempre]

@langleywil Because in that case, the whole opera world should be renovated. They should hire a 15 year old butterfly with oriental features, a very beautiful and young Traviata and an extremely sexy, sensual and beautiful Carmen. So, you see I think opera is not written for skin colors, because it´s very complicated when you have to choose all the other material (type of voice, stage presence, experience, good musician)

[langleywil]

It's apparent that most of you commenting on this have never read the synopsis or heard a  synopsis or bothered to read anything in regards to this. Did you hear the people that cheered? THEY ARE OPERA GOERS. Over.

[AfroPoli]

Clueless cretins like you.

[langleywil]

You poor thing. Obviously you've studied Wagner for decades beyond decades?

[AfroPoli]

yes. And you have not - obviously.

[langleywil]

You're laughable. The good thing about art is that not every has to like it and others can love it. I don't see you at the Met center stage, so...you lose.

[AfroPoli]

You are dumb as hell. You say that art is individual? Than stop attacking others. You think that everybody involved in an opera pruduction can be seen on stage? Good one. And you believe the Met is a reference opera house? Those poor productions and singers, Calleja, Netrebko, Villazon... BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[Maddy4Me]

Nah, this is pretty bad actually. A professional production should never be this bad.

[AfroPoli]

The tenor has a truly nasty voice (sounds like Chris Merritt) and Levine has no clue of Wagner. The German is bad. Schenk's staging is boring and meaningless.

And... aren't Siegmund and Sieglinde supposed to be brother and sister... uhmmmmm...

[langleywil]

They are exactly brother and sister! How are you going to attack people that have studied this for decades when you yourself have not one iota of the opera!!! You have just discredited yourself and made a joke out of yourself! LMAO

[65attila]

AfroPoli

You don't like the tenor- fine but your brother - sister remark was narrow minded of course and your disgusting remark " You think that everybody involved in an opera pruduction can be seen on stage? is especially nasty and silly- whar are your standards for deciding who should or not be seen on stage and as I have never read your name as a production manager you are the only one who cares what you think.

You would be funny if what you imply were not scary.

[AfroPoli]

@65attila Funny, now you have to be a production manager if you want to say your opinion. That's a really lame argument when you got nothing else to say.

I wasn't getting fits over Norman, you are doing that. I was saying that it looks funny when Sieglinde is black, just as it would be funny if Otello would be white as a sheet. If you think that's a racist comment, you are stupid. Sorry.

[65attila]

I am NOT stupid.. Your innuendos are not subtle and your playing the victim is what hostile people do. I do not care if Otello were white as a sheet. That is your hangup. What are Asians allowed  to sing?

You did not say funny regarding Norman- you twist your own words but most of us see through you as something from a distant sad past..

[AfroPoli]

@65attila Yappediyappyapp. I never said that singers are "not allowed" to sing because of their skin color. You did that. You can't argue in a mature way. It's a waste of time. Ciao.

[65attila]

@AfroPoli

If your are not trying to be sneeky and play word game- then learn English and good manners you 'Cavone"

[herokids]

Although the quality of Jessy Norman and her super voice, I prefer in Siglinde's role Leonie's Rysanek with her unforgettable scream.

[isabelle070209]

Magifique!!!

[skilled7]

I'm german and I barely understand a word xD

[LMJ314142]

Okay, I get that it's all about the music, and the visual effects are only eye candy, but why does Nothung always have to look so wimpy? I always see it as a giant broadsword.

[goto41]

Can you post her "Du bist der Lenz'?

[javierqatar]

OK for Norman and Levine; but for Lakes... one of the poorest Siegmunds I've ever heard: ugly voice, emission is all but natural, frequent lacks of diction... Sorry about that.

[s0ndhe1m]

I watch this video when I'm having a bad day. Jessye's SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEGMUND never ceases to wake me up!

[cyclonesupercell]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[waltermontani]

uno dei piu' bei duetti della storia dell'opera

[billyguns2]

Everybody is on fire here! The Met Orchestra plays as if possessed. Gary Lakes must be a giant, because Jessye Norman is a large, tall woman! We must give credit to Maestro Levine, a terribly uneven conductor when he doesn't like the music he's conducting, who is inspired as all get out here. I think his WALKURE, PARSIFAL, WOZZECK,

LULU, and MOSES UND ARON are among the greatest things I've ever heard in the opera house; I'll skip his performances of CARMEN and most Italian operas.

[billyguns2]

I never fail to get chills when I hear Siegmund begin "Heiligste minne..." Surely this is one of the greatest moments in all opera!

[isilinde1982]

Marvelous. Die Walküre is my very favourite Wagner-Opera. He outdid himself with that wonderful, powerful piece of music.

[Kevertenor]

What more could you want.