The Castorf Ring: Die Walküre (Bayreuth, 2016)

The new Bayreuth production of the Ring Cycle that premiered in 2013 offered spectacular sets, courtesy of Aleksandar Denić. As is regularly the case in Frank Castorf's productions, live video recordings add an extra dimension and in this performance Die Walküre is set at the beginning in the 19th century and then moves ahead to the Stalin era. The geographic setting is Baku, Azerbaijan, so in addition to Wild West capitalism, Castorf also takes aim at Soviet communism. The leading roles are also strongly cast in this third revival of Castorf's production, with Christopher Ventris, Heidi Melton, Catherine Foster and John Lundgren.

Soloists: 

Georg Zeppenfeld (Bass), Christopher Ventris (Tenor), John Lundgren (Baritone), Heidi Melton (Soprano), Catherine Foster (Soprano), Sarah Connolly (Mezzo-Soprano), Caroline Wenborne (Soprano), Dara Hobbs (Soprano), Stéphanie Houtzeel (Mezzo-Soprano), Nadine Weissmann (Alto), Christiane Kohl (Soprano), Mareike Morr (Mezzo-Soprano), Wiebke Lehmkuhl (Alto), Alexandra Petersamer (Mezzo-Soprano)

Ensemble: 

Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele

Conductor: 

Marek Janowski