Soft Valkyrie
Can someone whisper Die Walküre in your ear? With opera, you do not think of whispers or sighs but of strong classical voices in grand, spectacular set pieces. But the composer and game designer David Kanaga has turned Richard Wagner’s famous opera into a podcast. In Die Walküre, the second part of Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen, the supreme god Wotan punishes his daughter Brünnhilde for not following his orders. He makes her mortal and locks her up in a mountain surrounded by fire. While closely following Wagner’s notes and storyline, Kanaga’s background in the world of gaming can be heard in his use of electronic instruments and sound effects full of humour, drama and mysticism. The parts are sung by an atypical cast, ranging from classically trained vocalists like Claron McFadden to the demonic voice artist Attila Csihar – sung to be listened to on headphones rather than in an opera house. The result is intimate, light and less domineering than the original. One might even say: soft. A warm narrating voice turns Wagner’s stage instructions into a magical radio play in which the entire drama takes place in listeners’ imagination.Each of the three acts of Die Walküre will be divided into several podcast episodes for Soft Valkyrie. The episodes of the first act will be released on June 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th. The episodes of the second and third acts will follow later.
Soft Valkyrie
Episode 12 – The Other Valkyries (Act 3)
Welcome back to Soft Valkyrie. We’ve just left the scene of battle, where Wotan was flying into a rage at Brunnhilde’s disobedience. Now, look off to the horizon. See that peak out there? T hat’s where Brunhilde’s sisters, the other Valkyries, like to gather and play with their dead heroes. Brunhilde has just escaped the scene of battle with Sieglinde in tow, and must be headed in their direction to ask for help. Let’s fly on over, and see how things are going.
Click here for the full-score and for the libretto.
Soft Valkyrie
Presented and commissioned by Holland Festival in collaboration with Staatsoper Hannover and Dutch National Opera.
Full Credits
Music and libretto - Richard Wagner
English translation - Frederick Jameson
Direction & MIDI arrangement - David Kanaga
VOICES
Siegmund - Bryan the Mensah
Sieglinde - Hailey Clark
Hunding - Attila Csihar
Wotan - Mattijs van de Woerd
Fricka - Nadine Secunde
Brünnhilde - Claron McFadden
Valkyries - Mercedes Arcuri (Gerhilde, Helmwige), Clara Nadesdin (Ortlinde, Siegrune), Weronika Rabek (Waltraute, Grimgerde), Monika Walerowicz (Rossweisse, Schwertleite)
INSTRUMENTS
MIDI Piano, Act 1 - Marc Evanstein
MIDI Piano, act 2 and 3 - Ernst Munneke
Additional Flute on Siegmund’s “Winterstürme” - Jonas Pologe
SFX packs - Ableton, SOPHIE, Spectrasonics
PRODUCTION
Casting - David Kanaga, Christian Carlstedt
Dramaturgy - Laura Roling, Manon Schreurs
Commissioned and co-produced by Holland Festival, Dutch National Opera, Staatsoper Hannover
With the support of NTR Radio 4
Special thanks to Sound department Staatstheater Hannover, Soho Square Studios London, Splendor Amsterdam, Jochem Valkenburg, Jasper Berben
Click here for the full-score and for the libretto.
Soft Valkyrie
Presented and commissioned by Holland Festival in collaboration with Staatsoper Hannover and Dutch National Opera.
Full Credits
Music and libretto - Richard Wagner
English translation - Frederick Jameson
Direction & MIDI arrangement - David Kanaga
VOICES
Siegmund - Bryan the Mensah
Sieglinde - Hailey Clark
Hunding - Attila Csihar
Wotan - Mattijs van de Woerd
Fricka - Nadine Secunde
Brünnhilde - Claron McFadden
Valkyries - Mercedes Arcuri (Gerhilde, Helmwige), Clara Nadesdin (Ortlinde, Siegrune), Weronika Rabek (Waltraute, Grimgerde), Monika Walerowicz (Rossweisse, Schwertleite)
INSTRUMENTS
MIDI Piano, Act 1 - Marc Evanstein
MIDI Piano, act 2 and 3 - Ernst Munneke
Additional Flute on Siegmund’s “Winterstürme” - Jonas Pologe
SFX packs - Ableton, SOPHIE, Spectrasonics
PRODUCTION
Casting - David Kanaga, Christian Carlstedt
Dramaturgy - Laura Roling, Manon Schreurs
Commissioned and co-produced by Holland Festival, Dutch National Opera, Staatsoper Hannover
With the support of NTR Radio 4
Special thanks to Sound department Staatstheater Hannover, Soho Square Studios London, Splendor Amsterdam, Jochem Valkenburg, Jasper Berben