Portál Pražana
Nordic Warriors in Prague Cinemas
Richard Wagner's opera 'Die Walküre' (The Valkyrie) is coming to Czech cinemas as part of 'The Met: Live in HD' series. In Prague, the opera will be screened on the 30th of March in the Aero and Světozor cinemas.
‘The Met: Live in HD’ is a series of opera performances by the Metropolitan Opera in New York City broadcast live in high-definition video via satellite to cinemas worldwide. Since 2006, the project has offered opera lovers around the world almost 100 performances, starring some of the greatest opera stars, including Renée Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Plácido Domingo and Jonas Kaufmann.
Virgin warriors of Valhalla
On the 30th of March, Richard Wagner's opera ‘Die Walküre’ will be screened worldwide as part of this series. The opera is based on Nordic mythology, in which valkyries were virgin warriors who chose the souls of fallen warriors worthy of Valhalla, the hall where the greatest heroes met after their death to feast together. According to the myth, valkyries are beautiful, but dangerous –warriors armed with shields, spears, and helmets, who serve their god, Odin.
Valkyries rode into battle on winged horses. According to Odin's instructions, they controlled the battle, guarding warriors or letting them fall. In times of peace, they served and entertained fallen warriors in Valhalla.
Inspiration for ‘Die Walküre’
The heroic cycle ‘Poetic Edda’ contains a poem, the ‘Sigrdrífumál’ (Song of Sigurd), in which a hero saves a valkyrie from a spell Odin had cast on her, and she teaches her saviour the magical use of runes out of gratefulness. This very poem inspired Wagner’s opera, which is part of the cycle of four German-language epic music dramas, ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’ (The Ring of the Nibelung). This cycle consists of ‘Das Rheingold’, ‘Die Walküre’, ‘Siegfried’ and ‘Götterdämmerung’. Richard Wagner composed these four operas between 1848 and 1874, and he is the composer of both the music and the libretto.
Renowned cast and crew
The heroic soprano Christine Goerke will star in the title role of Brünnhild, whose encounter with the mortal twins Siegmund and Sieglinde, sung by Stuart Skelton and Eva-Maria Westbroek, leads her on a journey from Valhalla to earthbound humanity. Philippe Jordan conducts the famous Canadian director, Robert Lepage’s production. Lepage studied in Quebec, and after studying in Paris for a year, he began to write for theatre, direct and write plays. He is renowned for his innovative production of a wide repertoire of plays; in the 1990’s, he even directed Shakespeare in the Royal National Theatre in London. Besides being a leading Canadian theatre director, he has also made five critically acclaimed films. His concept of opera promises a modern approach and a strong audience experience.
Nextup: Carmelites
The next production from ‘The Met: Live in HD’ cycle will be Poulenc's opera ‘Dialogues of the Carmelites’ on the 11th May 2019. Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the music director of the Metropolitan Opera, will lead the orchestra and numerous singers in this modern story of faith and martyrdom. Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard sings the touching role of the novice Blanche and soprano Karita Mattila, a legend in her own time, will sing the role of the prioress, Madame de Croissy.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT:
30/03/2019 at 5:45PM
Venue: Kino Aero, Biskupcova 1733/31
Kino Světozor, Vodičkova 791/41
Admission: 400 – 500 Kč