Richard Wagner's Die Walküre is opera at its most epic with incredible vocal demands, a 110-piece orchestra and a story about gods and mortals, all played out to one of opera's most powerful and iconic scores. This immense work returns to the Canadian Opera Company this winter with a critically acclaimed production by renowned Canadian directorAtom Egoyan, with COC Music DirectorJohannes Debus conducting, and one of the most hotly anticipated role debuts of the opera world this season: Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Goerke as the Valkyrie Brünnhilde. Die Walküre is sung in German with English SURTITLESTM and runs for seven performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on January 31,February 4, 7, 10, 13, 19, 22, 2015.
The COC first presented Atom Egoyan's production of Die Walküre in 2004 and then in 2006 as part of the company's full Ring Cycle, a demanding four-part opera cycle considered to be Wagner's defining artistic achievement. Egoyan's internationally renowned production has been described as "powerful and moving" (Globe and Mail) and "as thoughtful and poetic as it is gripping" (National Post) with Canadian Michael Levinedesigning "striking to behold" (Opera, U.K.) industrial-themed sets along with elements of traditional, yet also deconstructed, Victorian-era costumes. Lighting is by David Finn. COC Music Director Johannes Debus conducts his first Die Walküre with this 2015 presentation, leading the COC Orchestra through a score that features some of the most powerful music ever conceived. A star-studded cast is featured in this masterwork about a passionate, forbidden love igniting a war between gods and mortals, and a warrior goddess who risks everything to preserve the future. One of the most exciting dramatic sopranos in the world, AmericanChristine Goerke makes her debut with the COC in her first fully staged performance as the mighty Valkyrie Brünnhilde. Recently named Musical America's Vocalist of the Year for 2015, Goerke has been described as the Wagner-Strauss soprano the opera world has been waiting for, a multi-hued miracle of gale-force power, and pinpoint control, effortlessly riding over the most clamouring orchestra. Goerke goes on to sing Brünnhilde with Houston Grand Opera immediately following her Toronto engagement, with future plans to reprise the role in full Ring Cycles at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera and Houston Grand Opera. She also returns to the COC as Brünnhilde for Wagner's Siegfried(2015/2016) and Götterdämmerung (2016/12017).Ticket Information
Single tickets for Die Walküre range from $59 - $424 and are 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.). All evening performances of Die Walküre begin at7 p.m.
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.
Photo credit: Christine Goerke stars in COC's Die Walkure. Photo: Gary Mulcahey
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