Wagner Gtterdmmerung (5-CD)

In May 2010 the Hall will release the live recording of their universally acclaimed performance of Wagners Gotterdammerung. In a landmark move the orchestra will release the opera in dual format; as both an MP3 and standard 5 disc CD set, making the recording available to the widest possible audience.

The recording was taken live at sell-out concerts, which were the showpiece of the Halls 2009 artistic season. Anticipation had been high since the dates were first announced, given the superb cast and Sir Mark Elder’s unrivalled reputation as one of the finest Wagner conductors in the world. The atmosphere at the concerts was electric, the critics unanimous in their praise and the audience ecstatic. This recording perfectly captures the drama and intensity of this great musical occasion, with orchestral playing of unrivalled quality and universally acclaimed performances from the whole cast. Without doubt, this was one of the most exciting musical events ever to have been staged in The Bridgewater Hall.

Sir Mark Elder said, The experience for us all of absorbing this great music was daunting and thrilling in equal measure. To hear it unfolding in the wonderful acoustic of the Bridgewater Hall gave the end of last season a fitting climax.

“The orchestra, reinforced for the occasion to more than 100 and with enough harps on- and off-stage to re-stock Paradise, responded with world-class playing from every section. Elder’s Hall is now transcendent.” The Daily Telegraph

“Mark Elder and the Hall came pretty near, at the weekend, to Wagners ideal… In their first concert performance of a complete Wagner opera, they achieved, over two evenings, what will surely go down in history as one of the Halls finest hours indeed, six of them.” The Times

“There may have been no cataclysmic flames engulfing Valhalla at the end of the Hall’s concert performance of Gtterdmmerung (Twilight of the Gods) but that did not stop it catching fire The programming of the final part of the Ring, spread over two evenings, was surely a peak of Elder’s ambitious plans to put the Hall centre-stage in British musical life.” The Independent

Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2010 – Opera

The cast

Brnnhilde – Katarina Dalayman, soprano
Siegfried – Lars Cleveman, tenor
Gunther – Peter Coleman-Wright, bass-baritone
Hagen – Attila Jun, bass
Gutrune – Nancy Gustafson, soprano
Waltraute – Susan Bickley, mezzo-soprano
Alberich – Andrew Shore, bass-baritone

Erda’s Daughters

First Norn – Ceri Williams, mezzo-soprano
Second Norn – Yvonne Howard, mezzo-soprano
Third Norn – Miranda Keys soprano

Rhinemaidens

Woglinde – Katherine Broderick, soprano
Wellgunde – Madeleine Shaw, mezzo-soprano
Flosshilde – Leah-Marian Jones, mezzo-soprano

Gibichung Men and Women

Hall Choir
BBC Symphony Chorus
London Symphony Chorus
The Royal Opera Chorus and Extra Chorus

Conductor
Sir Mark Elder

Catalogue number CD HLD 7525