The Canadian Opera Company enters the twilight of the gods with the revival of its acclaimed production of Wagner's Götterdämmerung directed by Toronto-area resident Tim Albery. COC Music Director Johannes Debus conducts his first Götterdämmerung, at the helm of the internationally acclaimed COC Orchestra and Chorus with a cast of generation-defining voices led by powerhouse American soprano Christine Goerke in her debut as Götterdämmerung's Brünnhilde. Götterdämmerung is sung in German with English SURTITLESTM and runs for seven performances on February 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 25, 2017.
Wagner's
Ring Cycle is commonly described as "the Everest of opera." The largest work in the history of Western music, the
Ring Cycle includes four operas:
Das Rheingold,
Die Walküre,
Siegfried and
Götterdämmerung. In the fourth instalment of Wagner's heroic
Ring, after poisoned drinks, mistaken identities and much deception, Brünnhilde and Siegfried are reunited in love and death as the worlds of both men and gods go up in flames only to rise again in an unforgettable affirmation of rebirth and renewal.
Götterdämmerung is the most epic of Wagner's tetralogy with some of the most complex and riveting music in the operatic repertoire. Many famous passages make up the final instalment of Wagner's monumental musical journey, including Siegfried's "Funeral March," an orchestral showcase offering a musical retrospective of the
Ring itself, and Brünnhilde's "Immolation" scene, an immensely powerful aria in which she restores order to the world and joins Siegfried on his burning pyre in an act of love.
Director Tim Albery's vision for the COC's conclusion of Wagner's masterpiece has been proclaimed as "the most inventive of all" (
New York Times). First presented by the COC in winter 2006, and then in fall 2006 as part of the company's full
Ring Cycle, this
Götterdämmerung is "as stunning a feat of staging as [has been] seen in Toronto" (
National Post), with critics singling out that "the great virtue of Albery's production is the urgency and absolutely clarity of the storytelling" (
Opera News), while also noting the presentation as a whole represents "the COC's proudest hour" (
Globe and Mail). Production designer
Michael Levine's compelling interpretation of
Götterdämmerung moves the action forward to the contemporary corporate landscape of the mortals who now rule the world and brings the cycle to a commanding and dramatic close. The lighting design is by acclaimed designer
David Finn, who won back-to-back Dora Awards for his work in
Die Walküre's 2015 revival and the 2016 remount of
Siegfried. Choreography is by Patti Powell.
Few roles in opera are more unique or challenging than those of
Götterdämmerung's Siegfried and Brünnhilde. They are among the most demanding tenor and soprano roles in all of opera, requiring voices of steel and sensitivity alongside super-human stamina to deliver the opera's awe-inspiring musical drama. Austrian tenor Andreas Schager is establishing himself as one world's leading heroic tenors and makes his COC debut as Siegfried-a role for which he's been proclaimed a "discovery" (
The Arts Desk) and "a big star in the making" (
The Independent). American soprano
Christine Goerke is the most sought-after Brünnhilde in the world today, her performances heralded for how her "gleaming tones sliced through the glittering orchestra" (
New York Times) and possess "everything a great Brunnhilde must have: dignity, stature, and a voice of molten gold" (
Toronto Star) as well as delivering "a once-in-a-decade experience" (
Globe and Mail). Goerke returns to sing
Götterdämmerung's Brünnhilde for the first time, previously debuting each instalment of the character in the recent COC revivals of
Die Walküre and
Siegfried.
Internationally renowned German baritone Martin Gantner is Gunther, Siegfried's rival. Estonian Ain Anger, "one of the great opera basses of our time" (
The Guardian), makes his Canadian and role debut as Gunther's half-brother, Hagen. Canadian bass Robert Pomakov, "a talent to watch" (
Washington Post), is Alberich, whose greed for the Rhinegold began this epic saga. COC Ensemble Studio graduate soprano Ileana Montalbetti, whose performance as Ellen Orford in the COC's recent
Peter Grimes was "in the realm of greatness" (
Toronto Star), returns as Gutrune, Gunther's sister and Siegfried's bride.
As the three Norns, daughters of Erda the Earth Goddess who are spinning the rope of destiny, is a trio of new and familiar voices. American mezzo-soprano
Lindsay Ammann(Schwertleite in 2015's
Die Walküre) is the First Norn; Scottish mezzo Karen Cargill makes her COC debut as the Second Norn; and soprano Ileana Montalbetti takes on a second role as the Third Norn.
In their COC mainstage debuts as water-nymph Rhinemaidens are two COC Ensemble Studio singers, soprano Danika Lorèn as Woglinde and mezzo-soprano Lauren Eberweinas Wellgunde. Mezzo-sopranos
Lindsay Ammann and Karen Cargill are also heard as the Rhinemaiden Flosshilde and the Valkyrie Waltraute, respectively.
The COC performs
Götterdämmerung at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The COC's 16/17 season marks the 10th anniversary of the Four Seasons Centre, Canada's first purpose-built opera house, which opened in fall 2006 and has been hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world.
TICKET INFORMATION
Single tickets for
Götterdämmerung range from $35 - $235 and box seats, when available, are $350. Tickets are now on sale, available online at
coc.ca, by calling
416-363-8231, or in person at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts Box Office (145 Queen St. W.). For more information on specially priced tickets available to young people under the age of 15, standing room, Opera Under 30 presented by TD Bank Group, student groups and rush seating, visit
coc.ca.
