The Met's Brunnhildes

 

Swedish soprano Irene Theorin (above) is now slated to make her Metropolitan Opera debut on April 6th as Brunnhilde in DIE WALKURE, a stand-alone performance of the opera being offered as the Met commences on three full RING Cycles. I first heard Theorin's voice on a recorded performance as one of the Valkyries at the BBC Proms and liked her, although I felt less enthusiastic about her 3rd Norn when I heard her from the 2007 Bayreuth Festival.

When first announced, the Brunnhildes for this season were to have been Lisa Gasteen and Christine Brewer but both names fell off the casting in recent weeks (Brewer officially out with a knee injury), and now the current plan seems to be:

April 6 Die Walküre – Iréne Theorin (debut)
April 11 mat. Die Walküre – Iréne Theorin
April 18 mat. Siegfried – Iréne Theorin
April 25 mat. Götterdämmerung – Katarina Dalayman
April 28 Die Walküre – Katarina Dalayman
April 30 Siegfried – Linda Watson
May 2 Götterdämmerung – Katarina Dalayman
May 5 Die Walküre – Linda Watson
May 7 Siegfried – Linda Watson
May 9 Götterdämmerung – Linda Watson

Whether this configuration will hold is anyone's guess. Ms. Dalayman's recent series of Isoldes at the Met did not go with absolute smoothness; the night I heard her she was quite good though I felt she was often pushing herself to the limits of her vocal powers. At one performance she was replaced by Waltraud Meier and at another Susan Foster took over from Dalayman after Act II. Dalayman has an attractive voice and is a sincere and appealing performer though I don't feel she was wise to venture so extensively into soprano territory. Rather like Violeta Urmana, Dalayman has had some fine successes as a soprano but honestly I miss both these voices in mezzo repertoire. Dalayman is listed to sing the WALKURE Brunnhilde in the much-anticipated Paris RING to be conducted by Philippe Jordan. {And note that my dear friend Nicole Piccolomini will be involved in the Paris RING as well, singing Flosshilde, Grimgerde and the 1st Norn; we'll be having more coverage of that as the time draws nearer.}

Linda Watson is more of a question-mark. When I heard her on the broadcast of the Bayreuth RING in 2007 I was distressed by her effortful, shy-of-the-mark upper register and some flatness elsewhere. It seemed that she would not be singing the second season of the Bayreuth production - Adrienne Dugger was to take over - but in the event Watson did return when Dugger withdrew. I am not sure what the plan is for the coming summer on the Green Hill.

At any rate, it will certainly be interesting to see what develops as the Met Cycles unfold. I have a feeling there will be more dramas both onstage and off before the final note of the final GOTTERDAMMERUNG sounds. In this undertaking there will have to be contingencies, and I am hearing another name being floated about: Rebecca Teem.   

Comments

[Dmitry]

I didn't know about Nicole doing the Paris RING! That's fantastic! Congrats Nicole!

Philipe Jordan can be exhausting to watch. He dances on the podium. Can he sustain that energy level through the RING?

[Philip]

I probably had not mentioned this because I wanted to be sure the contracts were signed before I said anything. But it now appears on her agent's website so it's official!

[lingin]

The Paris Ring casting is up at the website -- http://www.operadeparis.fr/.

I got to know Nicole when she was a student at the Academy of Vocal Arts where she sang an intense Klytemnestra and a beautiful Erda. I'm so very happy when I see her name in casting lists in major houses.

[Philip]

Yes, Nicole's career is really taking off. I am truly happy for her.

[lingin]

Actually, Philip, I found your website because I have a Google alert for Nicole and your posting on her was sent to my email.

Enjoying the site and particularly getting to know the dance world.

[Nicole]

Thanks so much!!!! It's nice to know I'm still thought about even though I'm not singing in The States.
I'm really looking forward to The Paris Ring!!

[Philip]

To be honest, Nicole, I think about you every day...really!

Hope the Paris RING will be broadcast and issued on DVD.