Die Walküre: A bleak but brilliant vision of damaged nature and toxic relationships
As in the opening Das Rheingold, the scorched trees and gloomy landscapes of Rufus Didwiszus's sets create a compellingly bare, stripped-back scene of an earth destroyed. The wizened, aged, naked figure of Erda (Illona Linthwaite) observes continually: you feel she has seen it all before, covering her eyes in horror. She oversees interactions for both humans and gods in which we can believe: the awakening, forbidden love of Sieglinde and Siegmund; the fraught relationship between Wotan and his daughter Brünnhilde.
There is not much to be gleaned from the first act's dreary blank wall of Sieglinde and Hunding's house, until the moment when the buried sword that Siegmund extracts reveals one of the production's ingenious twists. Solomon Howard's Hunding is a commanding figure (until Wotan dismisses him later with a Tosca-like backward flip), Natalya Romaniw's brightly sung Sieglinde a wife who screams in fear until she realises that Stanislas De Barbeyrac's ardent, lyrical Siegmund is her twin and her love.
If this first act is slow to ignite, the second is totally compelling, starting from the crisp, strongly articulated Wotan of Christopher Maltman, whose argument with Marina Prudenskaya's imposing Fricka in purple, arriving in period limousine, is a power marriage all gone wrong. Elisabet Strid's youthful, tomboyish Brünnhilde starts as a rebellious child but quickly matures into an achingly independent adult in her heart-rending scene with her father in which their every fleeting emotion is captured in Kosky's direction.
It was always to be expected that Kosky would want to delve into the constant problem of Wagner's anti-Semitism, and here the appearance in Act II of a charred body that is then viciously destroyed prepares the way for a shocking rethinking of the Ride of the Valkyries at the start of Act III, as they collect incinerated bodies, a sensation rescued theatrically only by the individual characterisations of the coven-like Valkyries.
Vocally, this is a fascinating Walküre: all the singers, Maltman and Strid especially, but also Romaniw (who came in late to replace the more heavyweight talent Lise Davidsen), are comparatively youthful, fresh voices without a heavy inheritance of years of Wagner singing. The words are paramount, and their impulsiveness is matched by Antonio Pappano's conducting, which drives the music forward, sometimes feeling a little loose, but always effective in pushing the story forwards.
Pappano is now Conductor Laureate at the house whose music he directed so effectively for 22 years. Who knows, perhaps a more optimistic vision of the future of humanity may emerge in the remaining instalments of this impressive, stimulating Ring cycle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I found a cheap all-inclusive resort with tigers, sea lions & a water park 2 hours from the UK – your kids will love it
Plus, how much nine days cost the family WATER DEAL I found a cheap all-inclusive resort with tigers, sea lions & a water park 2 hours from the UK – your kids will love it Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TAKING your family away on holiday can be expensive and stressful, but one woman claims to have found the perfect cheap all-inclusive. Kirsty Gladden raved about a family resort located just two hours from the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Kirsty Gladden raved about the Magic Natura park in Benidorm Credit: Tiktok 5 She said her family loved the animals and water park Credit: Tiktok On her @kirstygladden, she said her family love the Magic Natura Animal, Water Park & Polynesian Lodge Resort in Benidorm, which is a water park and a zoo resort. In a clip which has racked up over 57,000 likes, she shared: 'Can you believe this family resort is only 2 hours away from the UK? 'It's not gonna break your bank if you decide to book. If you're looking for a cheap family holiday, then keep watching. 'There are two main swimming pools in this resort, and they are all catered around children.' She advised that you should stay in a private lodge - which comes in a range of one, two and three-bedroom options - and you also get access to the whole water park, which has a mixture of children and adult rides. Kirsty shared how you can also get up close and personal to some animals too. She added: 'Also, the opportunity to swim with sea lions — obviously at an extra charge. 'As well as that, you also get access to their own zoo. 'There are hundreds of animals here, and you can visit this as often as you like.' The resort is located in the Terra Natura animal park, which has a 'zooimmersion' concept, meaning you can interact with more than 1,000 animals, including tigers, rhinos, and elephants, without barriers blocking your view. This holiday park has Maldives-like overwater bungalows Another perk of the Magic Natura is that they have evening entertainment on every single night. Kirsty explained these include shows, karaoke, and quiz nights — and all of these 'get the children really, really involved.' There is also entertainment during the day, including foam parties, bingo, darts, mini disco, and even a circus show. Meanwhile, older children can also access a games room free of charge. 5 The mum said the resort was perfect for her family 5 She said there is plenty of entertainment for the day and evening 5 Many viewers said they also love the Benidorm resort Credit: Magic Natura Animal, Water Park & Polynesian Lodge Resort She added: 'At this resort, there's an option to be all inclusive or ultra all inclusive — which means you get food, drinks, snacks all included.' The mum explained that ultra includes restaurants, pizza delivery, and also shows. Kirsty shared how the resort is a 10-minute drive from Benidorm's beach, and there is a free bus service to spend the day down there. In her video, she claimed that for two adults, and one child, she paid less than £2,000 for nine days. Many people were quick to chime in with their views on the resort, with one saying: 'The facilities are amazing.' Another added: 'Love this place we've booked again for March.'
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
I found a cheap all-inclusive resort with tigers, sea lions & a water park 2 hours from the UK – your kids will love it
TAKING your family away on holiday can be expensive and stressful, but one woman claims to have found the perfect cheap all-inclusive. Kirsty Gladden raved about a family resort located just two hours from the UK. 5 On her @kirstygladden, she said her family love the Magic Natura Animal, Water Park & Polynesian Lodge Resort in Benidorm, which is a water park and a zoo resort. In a clip which has racked up over 57,000 likes, she shared: 'Can you believe this family resort is only 2 hours away from the UK? 'It's not gonna break your bank if you decide to book. If you're looking for a cheap family holiday, then keep watching. 'There are two main swimming pools in this resort, and they are all catered around children.' She advised that you should stay in a private lodge - which comes in a range of one, two and three-bedroom options - and you also get access to the whole water park, which has a mixture of children and adult rides. Kirsty shared how you can also get up close and personal to some animals too. She added: 'Also, the opportunity to swim with sea lions — obviously at an extra charge. 'As well as that, you also get access to their own zoo. 'There are hundreds of animals here, and you can visit this as often as you like.' The resort is located in the Terra Natura animal park, which has a 'zooimmersion' concept, meaning you can interact with more than 1,000 animals, including tigers, rhinos, and elephants, without barriers blocking your view. This holiday park has Maldives-like overwater bungalows Another perk of the Magic Natura is that they have evening entertainment on every single night. Kirsty explained these include shows, karaoke, and quiz nights — and all of these 'get the children really, really involved.' There is also entertainment during the day, including foam parties, bingo, darts, mini disco, and even a circus show. Meanwhile, older children can also access a games room free of charge. 5 5 She added: 'At this resort, there's an option to be all inclusive or ultra all inclusive — which means you get food, drinks, snacks all included.' The mum explained that ultra includes restaurants, pizza delivery, and also shows. Kirsty shared how the resort is a 10-minute drive from Benidorm's beach, and there is a free bus service to spend the day down there. In her video, she claimed that for two adults, and one child, she paid less than £2,000 for nine days. Many people were quick to chime in with their views on the resort, with one saying: 'The facilities are amazing.' Another added: 'Love this place we've booked again for March.' Holiday packing tips Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday. 1. Write a list Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase. Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack. 2. Involve your kids Jemma said: 'My girls are getting older, they're 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say 'this is what you need' and they follow the list. 'And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them 'you can have whatever you want in there as long as it's not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that's their 'home away from home' items.' 3. Try a hack or two She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you've just got to pick the right one for your trip. "Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you're trying to get a lot of items into your case, it's a space saver. 'Packing cubes are great - for example, I'm going on holiday with my three kids and we're all using the same suitcase for our clothes. "These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. "I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we've arrived." 4. Decant beauty products Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller. Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive. 5. Get organised before you come home Jemma said: 'When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes. 'Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person. "Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don't leave it."
The Sun
16 hours ago
- The Sun
Lionesses' Beatlemania-like homecoming shows women footballers are FINALLY getting the honour and respect they deserve
WITH Chloe Kelly inevitably at the front of the bus, the Royal Marines band struck up Sweet Caroline and the parade was off. Inching down the Mall — British royalty's ceremonial thoroughfare — the Lionesses were accorded all the trappings of a state occasion. 11 11 11 Banned by the FA for half a century, ridiculed and written off by others, women footballers were now receiving the honour and respect they have long been due. And much of the admiration was coming from mums, who had brought their daughters along to soak in the inspirational Lioness magic. Among them was Kerry Randall, from Gloucester, who made a last-minute decision to bring her brood — Kaydee, six, Hadley, seven, Lennox, ten, Macey, 12 and Cole, 14. The 37-year-old early-years educator told me: 'It's nice for the girls to see we're equal to the men — if not better sometimes.' Daughter Macey added: 'It shows that women can succeed in life.' Holding a giant poster of Beth Mead, student and football coach Tillie Sykes, from Bromley, South London, said: 'The win meant everything to me. It's a giant step forward for women's football and for women in general.' Proper recognition for the Lionesses' achievements has taken a long time — but now it's unmistakably here. Standing ten deep around me as the bus passed, the Beatlemania-like roar from tens of thousands of female voices was deafening. There were plenty of blokes in attendance, but with so many women cramming along the railings lining St James's Park, the testosterone was drowned out. Michelle Agyemang, the tournament's 19-year-old breakout star, seemed a little overawed by the ecstatic scenes that were unfurling as the bus passed a sea of phones. There were plenty of blokes in attendance, but with so many women cramming along the railings lining St James's Park, the testosterone was drowned out. Inside Lionesses' boozy Euro 2025 celebrations as stars party with pizzas, beers and loved ones after win over Spain No one was swilling tinnies, let alone chopping out lines of coke in the Portaloos. And nobody felt the need to shove a lit flare up their bottom, as a smashed fan had before the English men's Euro 2020 final defeat at Wembley. Passing alternate Union flags and St George Crosses on the Mall, the procession soon reached Buckingham Palace. I'd half expected the wrought iron gates to swing open and a flunky to beckon inspirational coach Sarina Wiegman inside to collect an honorary damehood then and there. It's no more than the likeable 55-year-old Dutch former PE teacher deserves. 11 11 11 Her squad shuffled on to a makeshift stage in front of the Victoria Memorial. Beneath the gilded monument to one English Queen, there now gathered more than two dozen others. Seated on a throne above the Lionesses was the marble figure of Queen Victoria, her memorial topped with the glinting bronze statue of winged victory. 'They didn't want us on their pitches' When the King's great, great, great grandmother died in 1901 women didn't even have the vote. It took another 27 years before all women over 21 were finally enfranchised, giving them the same voting rights as men. Women's football had a similar struggle to win acceptance in a male-dominated world. Amid the scenes of hysteria, I thought back to the day in 2010 when I met Edna Broughton, then 80, who was the Chloe Kelly of her day. Edna, who sadly didn't live to see the Lionesses' two Euro triumphs, was star striker for the world-famous Dick, Kerr Ladies football team, which was founded in 1917. In its heyday they played in front of 53,000 fans at Everton's Goodison Park, and beat a French side in the first ever women's international. The team were treated like superstars — but in the stuffy Football Association corridors of power, it caused deep consternation. Minutes from a 1921 meeting read: 'Complaints have been made as to football being played by women and the Council feel impelled to express their strong opinion that the game is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.' So women footballers were banned from all FA-affiliated grounds — and incredibly, it lasted for 50 years. I love the fact that they're so proud to be English and that it doesn't matter what colour or race you are. That brings people together. Pat MacFarlane, 64, fan at the parade Edna, who played for Dick Kerr from 1945 until 1959, told me: 'They were chauvinists — they didn't want us on their pitches. 'I think the men were worried because we were becoming as popular as they were.' So yesterday's celebrations were also for those who came before the Lionesses, and for the young girls who will follow after — not just as footballers, but as leaders in industry and politics who will have fed off the Lionesses' guts, drive and will to succeed. As student Katie Baird, 18, from Guildford, Surrey, put it: 'The women's teams had massive crowds before they were banned — but now we're back.' Her friend Lauren Mutch, 19, added: 'The Lionesses' victory was nothing short of inspirational. They showed the men how it's done.' In their St George plastic bowler hats, Joyce Allison, 79, Elizabeth Elrick, 73, and Pat MacFarlane, 64, had travelled from London's East End to witness the joyous scenes on the Mall. Teacher Pat told me: 'When I was a kid, only boys were allowed to play football. We were told you weren't allowed to play.' Of the Lionesses, she said: 'I love the fact that they're so proud to be English and that it doesn't matter what colour or race you are. That brings people together.' 11 11 11 11
