Wagner-Die Walkure-"Leb wohl,du kunhes, herrliches Kind!"

[angelofsundown]

Donald McIntyre, he is really a kind of God in this repertoire. I adore his interpratation of this great music.

[serrc1]

The way McIntyre times his walk (3:29-3:39) to the music is astonishing and so overwhelming...

[bondlake123]

?????????

[Greekbaritone]

It's so important to observe that when singing in this theater how the singers are easily able to project their voices. At minute 6:00 one hears how McIntyre bring's down his huge voice to a pianissimo while still being clearly heard. It's another reason why singers enjoy Bayreuth so much because the orchestra is under the stage, allowing them to play out without covering the voices. Pity not all houses are constructed like so. An open pit can cause an imbalance if conductors are not careful.

[FlintDeep]

Great, but the best version for me it's, Thomas Stewart and Herbert Von Karajan

[MacktheNice]

Well, that was a Knighthood well deserved. I saw his Wotan in a Das Rheingold concert in 1997. He was superb then, too.

[LOperaSeria]

There can't have been many times in Bayreuth's history that Wotan has lifted Brunhilde of the ground!

[drommetenrot]

Honestly, why does Wotan (!) wear a tailcoat??

[DarwinsTomcat]

@drommetenrot Watch the whole Ring (THIS Ring) and you will wish for Wotan never to wear anything else again.

[ykan1]

@drommetenrot Because it's all about the rise of Industrial Capitalism.

[Zodist]

@drommetenrot Cos Wotan is among us.He's alive.Cheers

[Zodist]

This is sheer beauty and melancholic.I,m in love with this.Cheers

[windstorm1000]

yes, folks this is the infamous prouduction that caused opera's down fall. Take a god and put him in a business suit!! James Morris at the MEt atleast brought a retro against the madness.

[chpnlzt]

3:00 - 4:00 MAY BE THE HIGHEST CLIMAX IN ALL MUSIC - ESPECIALLY IN LORIN MAAZELL'S WAGNER WITHOUT WORDS

[pepebuho]

Did not like it. I prefer the MET one. Come on, she is getting everything she wanted, but instead of looking happy or satisfied,she stands there like all scared-like.

[vidiegoquam]

@pepebuho Everything she wanted?!? She's saying goodbye to her beloved father, permanently. She's being deprived of her godhood. She's losing everything she's ever known. She has won her concession: she won't be at the mercy of any man, but "only" of a "free hero" ok... but she's still losing her freedom as she knows it (though I'm not of course suggesting Bruennhilde doesn't have freedom/agency in the last two operas.)

[parsifal3142]

@vidiegoquam I agree. Wagner deemed this farewell so important that he wrote what is the apotheosis of opera to accompany it. Because Wotan has lost EVERYTHING. And so has Brunhilde.

[lovingee1]

I like them all but JAMES MORRIS is my favorite,

Barbara T.

NYC

[Brunildilla]

Extraordinary ORQUESTRA!!!! Wonderful singer...!!! Donald McIntyre as Wotan the best EVER!!! , Gwyneth Johnes as Brunhilde Phenomenal!! .

[AtheneNikephoros]

The music from 2:36 to 4:20: one of the most moving depictions of grief I've ever come across--in any media.

[Nixonfan2011]

why is Wotan's left eye closed? was that intentional?

[AtheneNikephoros]

@Nixonfan2011 The story goes that Wotan gave up one eye in exchange for wisdom. Earlier in this production, he was wearing an eye patch. However, during Act Two, he ripped it off.

[franciscolopezus]

Mine too...thank you for uploading this.

[fedka86]

My god... the genius of that! The will to do that!

[Spiritakis]

Competently conducted, decently sung, grossly overacted, apallingly staged. One of the greatest perversities in the history of Wagner's performence practice.

[cantanto999]

@Spiritakis Obviously you have no idea at all!

"decently sung"? Donald McIntyre was most likely the best Wotan ever.

Chéreau's staging is simply perfect - but that, of course, is a matter of taste!

Danalds singing is not a matter of taste. Anyone who has ears and any idea understands that this sublime!

[Spiritakis]

@cantanto999

Obviously you have no idea about the essence of art, mate. Everything - absolutely everything - is a matter of taste. I don't mind your hero worship of McIntyre; by the same logic I could say Boris Christoff was the greatest Wotan ever, but I personally prefer Thomas Stewart. And then there are Hans Hotter, Theo Adam (at their prime), and a good many older masters like Friedrich Schorr, to name but just one. Considering it is a live performance, McIntyre isn't bad at all.

[puppetoz]

@Spiritakis yes we all have our favourites- perhaps it would be more accurate to say that this particular performance is wonderful in this highly credited production.

[BorisGodunov]

@Spiritakis Er, I'm not sure how anyone could logically say Christoff was the greatest Wotan ever, considering he never sang the role...

[AtheneNikephoros]

@BorisGodunov Christoff, however, did sing Wotan's Farewell during his debut concert.

[BorisGodunov]

@AtheneNikephoros Yes, I'm aware of that. But singing one bit in a concert isn't singing a "role," as it's not remotely comparable to performing all of Wotan in staged performances repeatedly over the course of one's career. Christoff was never Wotan, and there's no way one could logically say that he was the "greatest Wotan ever," even in a subjective sense.

[AtheneNikephoros]

@BorisGodunov Yes, of course. It's nothing like actually BEING Wotan.

[Spiritakis]

@BorisGodunov

Who speaks of logic? And who said that Boris Christoff ever sang the role?

I meant his recording of Wotan's Farewell. Of course it is absurd to extrapolate whole role from one segment only - but no more so than maintaining that one has to admire McIntyre, or any other singer, simply because somebody else says so. Which is indeed what I really meant.

[cantanto999]

@Spiritakis

First: I am not your mate.

Second: I do indeed have an Idee about "the essende of art". In comparison to you I am actually one of those ON stage and not off. There is no hero worship here. That Christoff, Hottet etc. were amazing, sublime, perfect in many ways, too is not the point here. How exactly does this make McIntyre worse.?

Only someone who has no idea about singing, about being on stage, performing can say that Donalds Wotan is "decently sung". That was my point. Regards. C.

[Spiritakis]

@cantanto999

A good point indeed. Different points of view would naturally produce different results. I do not in the least pretend to have any idea of singing or being on stage. Nor do I think this is necessary to appreciate singing on the stage. It is just personal. For me other singers made McIntyre sound dull. That's my point.

PS '' the best Wotan ever'' sounds pretty much like hero worship to me.

[Chrysothemis]

That high D# at 3:35 makes me feel like my heart is being ripped right out of my chest. Every damn time.

[urmorph]

@Chrysothemis  Truly felt and well said.

[UlfenDaddy]

@Chrysothemis I don't know how I missed your comment before now... Yes that D#, I KNOW! I KNOW!! I KNOW!!! Every damn time. I am an utter wreck by the end of Die Walkure; and as much as I would love to hear-see a full production again I can't do it to myself or other opera-goers. I attended the Centennary Ring in '76, and was fairly dragged from the theatre at the conclusion of Walkure; I barely remember Gotterdammerung at all I was so overwhelmed by the whole Ring.

[mucfan]

@UlfenDaddy As a german, I must admit you understand every word he is singing. THAT is important if you listent to Wagner - for me

[UlfenDaddy]

@mucfan Thank you; I understand both Grammar and Nuance in German as thoroughly as I do English. But I risk neither the embarrassment to myself, nor offense to literate Germans were I to attempt to write it. I haven't needed to Write (homilies, articles, letters,) in German since the early 1990's, and were I to post auf Deutsch it would be so rife with 6th grade mistakes [you] might think I am another of these illiterate American punks constantly insulting everyone here in YouTube.

[RVP57]

Maybe the best Ring of all...

[cantanto999]

@RVP57 Definetely!

[clytemnestre1]

Magnificent Wotan ... and G Jones when singing, the both are great! The greatest!

[Horationelson4ever]

so sad :'(

My dad was so lucky he got to see this at its first year at Bayreuth

[somnitel]

I saw the same production the following year ('77), and the Wotan was nowhere near as good.

[astroboy1960]

Who was conducting and singing?

[IchiTheRipper]

Pierre Boulez conducting, Donald McIntyre singing, and...hmm, not so good with the women singers...is that Jones?

[LeCheikh]

It is, indeed. And don't forget Chereau, director.

[SilentShooter53]

I have viewed this Ring and the one done by Levine at the Met. And I much prefer this version, the performance by Dame Jones and McIntyre is so much more powerful.

[rwagner83]

3:23 Brividi!!!!!!!!!

[dmtdekker]

I find that what makes this version also so effective is that the performance really shows a father-daughter relationship between McIntyre and Jones. The chemistry between them works extremely well, which is something that you do not see with, for example, obviously aged Brünnhildes like Hildegard Behrens in the Levine/Met version ;-)

[ConqueredSun]

I agree. There is almost an incestuous undertone present in the Levine/Met version that I really haven't seen in other ones. The only flaw with this one's Die Walküre is that Wotan threatens Brünnhilde at spear point when she questions his order to kill Siegmund. It's good sturm und drang, but I can't imagine even Wotan being that extreme!

[dmtdekker]

If you look at the symbolism, that would indicate Wotan attempting to destroy his pure will (Brunnhilde symbolizing all of Wotans longings notregarding his treaties and pacts he has to control the world). Would seem rather extreme to me indeed ;-)

[hamrickdr]

I think you must be right, I'm tearing up as I'm listening to this. ;-) I also have a tough, independent daughter who is my spitting image, and this scene always gets to me. One of the most "human" moments in all of Wagner, even if they're gods.

[dmtdekker]

Indeed :) Actually the gods would, at a certain point in Wagners vision, be only given privilege if adressed as 'human' - the whole idea during composition of the first part of the Ring is the evolution of a race superior to that of the gods, ie humans. According to George Bernard Shaw (in his 'The Perfect Wagnerite') Wagners renewed insights accord for the relatively poor metaphorical or narrative value of Götterdämmerung (imho not when one adresses composition technique ;-))

[VolkgartenBySquirrel]

What I find so remarkable is that Brunhilde, of all those to whom he is supposed to be ruler abd All Father, is the recipient of Wotan's disclosures and angst. I can't decide whether this Wotan is a heel for all seasons, or so suicidal and selfish as to engage in bad dealings and take as many as he can with him - starting with his rearguard! Yes, he's speaking to her as he never had before, but to excuse himself. Duty to family vesus Grand Destiny (suicide) what's the problem?

[weissesteffie]

Das waren noch welche der ganz großen Opernstars in meiner Kindheit...

So wie auch Siegfried Jerusalem, Matti Salminen e.t.c.

Und Pierre Boulez machte seine Sache mit der Inszenierung auch nicht schlecht...

[Bastikalk]

Das sehe ich genauso. Der war nämlich der Dirigent.

[petatap]

Die Inszenierung ist von Patrice Chèreau (Fernsehuebertragung 1983).

[paulostroff99]

Beautifully done. Bravo! TY.

[rwagner83]

Che musica sublime!!!!

La musica più bella mai scritta da Wagner!!!

[paddyswok]

Just sublime. How else can we describe it? There is music, then there is Wagner, touched by something unfathomable.

[beatabeatrixx]

*cries*

Beautiful

[LMJ314142]

6:48. That was in Scene 1 of Rheingold when the Rheinmaidens revealed the secret of forging the Ring. Is that the motif for renunciation of love? Loss in general? Anyone know?

[Matt54e]

yep, renunciation of love.

[Chrysothemis]

Yes, it is indeed the motif of Renunciation. It appears at this moment because Wotan is renouncing love (of Brunnhilde, by parting with her forever) in order to secure his power.

He could have chosen not to, but that would have been illegal, and thus his authority as divine lawgiver would have been undermined.

[truefakeness]

"Denn einer nur freie die Braut, Der freier als ich der Gott!"

That line always brings tears to my eyes.

[helius69]

Indeed !

One of Wanger's great lines

[hundingwelser]

leb wohl!

[Chrysothemis]

As devastating as I've always found this production, and especially this scene, I always find myself wondering: how many other productions have you seen where the baritone would actually have been able to lift the soprano off the ground?

[Sieglinde84]

Well, not many sopranos are as slim as Gwyneth... :D Maybe one day, when Nina Stemme will be Brünnhilde, we will see a scene like this.

[Chrysothemis]

Sieglinde84 - As I seem to comment everywhere, I can't wait for Nina's San Francisco Brunnhilde. Can not wait.

[tenorismo]

A Fathers love. Beautifull

[wagnerfan27]

This very scene from the Boulez Ring was my first introduction to Wagner...it disturbed me greatly and thrilled me beyond words. Wagner truly plumbed the depths of emotion at its darkest (and most beautiful) levels.

[1W2a3g4n5e6r]

I agree with all my heart. I was a friend of Pierre when he was music director at the New York Philharmonic (such a great loss) and he was able to get me tickets to his Beyreuth Ring. I have never had nor shall I ever have again such an experience. The sheer emotionalism of the entire production was beyond belief and of course Pierre's rendering of the score was impeccable. I still get tears and goose bumps remembering it.

[privado1321]

Very good performance...

I've always said that wagner operas are the greatest...

[SteveDurnin]

Hotter rocks.

[Turiyayuro]

All in all, the best DVD Valkyrie out there is Boulez', and this is one of the scenes that proves why. They act as well as sing, and everything comes together beautifully.

As long as we're griping about Hotter (poor guy), he's terrible in Solti's rendition (it was near the end of his career--and his voice) but great in Knappertsbusch's 1956 Cycle. Though my favorite Wotan ever is one most people haven't heard: Norman Bailey, Goodall's Wotan in the ENO cycle. Still, McIntyre isn't bad. . .

[emmanuel54321]

horrible voice -

[harisiadis]

A very human approach to this wonderful scene. Very moving. Wonderful.

To say farewell to a loved one is never easy.

[Sieglinde84]

McIntyre is the most humanly Wotan. And Gwyneth - finally, a nice, slim! Brünnhilde with a fantastic voice...

[Doromir]

Wonderful!

[EinFremderAusElea]

Ach, außer mir, mein Lieblingswotan: Theo Adam!

[EinFremderAusElea]

Ja, das ist der beste Teil der Walküre, keine Frage.

Aber ich kann das besser singen!

[keikobad]

agree with hermanzoon, amazing. Hans Hotter is the joke as wotan

[hermanzoon]

Hmm.. Hotter a "joke"?  That's like saying Johnny Bench was not one of the top catchers of all time.

[mark0866]

I'm sorry, but James Morris leaves this stuff in the dust.

[hermanzoon]

McIntyre, one of the absolute great Wotans. He is phenomenal here.

[gabrilu06]

Yes, hermanzoon. Mcintyre is my preferred Wotan...

[Dymension]

Beautiful voice!

[srg2457]

I saw both of them do this at Covent Garden. Fabulous.

[Luiyi385]

Leaves one speechless. The sublime beauty of this.

[100yearoldWhiskey]

It gets too fast when Wotan gets to "Der Augen Leuchtendes Paar". This is nonetheless one of the more fabulous Walkure endings (along with the Karajan, Goodall, Janowski, and Levine versions.).

[Dramaticmaleprano]

OMG Gwyneth is wonderful!