Gotterdammerung

Composer: Wagner, Richard

Librettist/Text Author: Wagner, Richard

Conductor: Zagrosek, Lothar

Orchestra: Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra

Chorus: Stuttgart State Opera Chorus

Chorus Master: Eistert, Ulrich

Alberich: Kapellmann, Franz-Josef

Brunnhilde: DeVol, Luana

Flosshilde: Collins, Janet

Gunther: Iturralde, Hernan

Gurtrune: Westbroek, Eva-Maria

Hagen: Bracht, Roland

Norn 1: Collins, Janet

Norn 2: Poulson, Lani

Norn 3: Patchell, Sue

Siegfried: Bonnema, Albert

Waltraute: Vaughn, Tichina

Wellgunde: Castle, Sarah

Woglinde: Indridadottir, Helga Ros

Producer: Schickling, Dieter

Set Designer: Neumann, Bert

Costume Designer: Neumann, Bert

Lighting Designer: Baumgarten, Lothar

Stage Director: Konwitschny, Peter

Television Director: Hulscher, Hans

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Date of Production: 12-01-2003

Venue: Staatstheater Stuttgart

Playing Time: 04:26:00

Catalogue Number: EuroArts5209

UPC: 880242520982

Libretto

Gotterdammerung

Synopsis

Gotterdammerung

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This recording of Gotterdammerung forms the fourth and final part of Wagner's masterpiece, his epic Ring Cycle. The Stuttgart Opera gave it revolutionary treatment in a staging by Peter Konwitschny, a celebrated interpreter of Wagner, whose opera stagings have always been regarded as trendsetters within the Wagner community. He chooses to ignore the wider myth-bound associations of the work and concentrates on the immediate motivations, emotions and obsessions of the characters. Gone are the gods awaiting nightfall in their imposing hall; the action instead is set on a simple wooden stage of a touring theatre company. The performances of Richard Wagner's Ring cycle in Stuttgart created a sensation unheard of since the monumental "century" Ring in Bayreuth in the late seventies. "Four operas ?EUR" four stage directors" was the artistic idea behind the 1999/2000 cycle under the musical direction of Lothar Zagrosek. Appreciating the individual operas of Der Ring des Nibelungen without having to relate to previous or subsequent storylines enabled the stage directors ?EUR" handpicked among the successful Stuttgart Opera team surrounding Artistic Director Klaus Zehelein ?EUR" to express their individual insights into the well-known drama of Siegfried and Wotan. In 2002 German critics voted Stuttgart's Staatsoper "Opera House of the Year" for the fourth time in five years. This series was recorded live at revival performances in 2002 and 2003, and it pays tribute to the artistic and musical achievement of the Stuttgart Opera House and a wonderful cast of singers.