Mark Delevan and Stephanie Blythe as Wotan and Fricka at the Met
[Ruby Washington/New York Times]
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED THIS OUT --
I haven't quite figured out yet just what to make of all this, or how to make it. But I reached the point, as often happens in the making of these posts, where I needed to be able to hear the audio clips that were piling up -- all having to do, obviously, with the great confrontation between Fricka and Wotan in Scene 1 of Act II of Die Walküre, which we stumbled into last week in Part 1 of a remembrance of the fine English mezzo-soprano Josephine Veasey. I should have known better than to think that I could get by with just a passing wave at this scene, which I've written about in one form or another, in one place or another, a heckuva lot over the many years I've been living with it.
One thing that happened since I put that post up was that I took a peek in the Sunday Classics Archive to see what was already stockpiled there, and hardly surprisingly found a bunch, some of which you can hear here (everything that's in place as of now except the performances of the complete Fricka-Wotan scene). Another thing that happened, while I was trying to focus in on Veasey's Fricka, which I've admired (on records only, I should specify) since the Karajan-DG Walküre was released. -- Ken
WAGNER: Die Walküre: Act II, Scene 1,
from the Fricka-Wotan scene:
from Fricka, "Wo in Bergen du dich birgst"
("Here in the mountains, where you hide")
On the rocky pass, as the raging FRICKA, after leaping from her chariot drawn by rams, nears WOTAN, she moderates her pace and approaches him in a dignified manner.
FRICKA: Here in the mountains, where you hide
in order to escape your wife's eye,
here in solitude
I seek you out,
that you may promise me help.
WOTAN: What it is that troubles Fricka
let her freely tell.
FRICKA: I have learned of Hunding's distress;
he called on me for vengeance:
the guardian of wedlock
heard him
and promised to punish
with severity the deed
of the shameless impious pair
who so boldly wronged the husband.
Irene Dalis (ms), Fricka; Otto Edelmann (bs-b), Wotan; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf, cond. Live performance, Dec. 23 1961
Mignon Dunn (ms), Fricka; Donald McIntyre (bs-b), Wotan; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Sixten Ehrling, cond. Live performance, Mar. 1 1975
Christa Ludwig (ms), Fricka; James Morris (bs-b), Wotan; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, James Levine, cond. DG, recorded in Manhattan Center, April 1987
Yvonne Minton (ms), Fricka; Theo Adam (bs-b), Wotan; Staatskapelle Dresden, Marek Janowski, cond. Eurodisc-BMG, recorded in the Lukaskirche, Aug. 22-29, 1981
WAGNER: Die Walküre: Act II, Scene 1,
from the Fricka-Wotan scene: Fricka, from "Wann ward es
erlebt, dass leiblich Geschwister sich liebten?"
("When was it ever seen that brother and sister were lovers?") . . .
"So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern?"
("Is all over then with the eternal gods?")
FRICKA: When was it ever seen
that brother and sister were lovers>
WOTAN: Today you've seen it!
Learn thus
that a thing may come about of itself,
though it never yet happened before.
That each loves the other
is clear to you;
heed honest counsel then!
Since bliss will
reward you for your blessing,
then, smiling on love, bless
Siegmund and Sieglinde's union!
FRICKA: Is all over then
with the eternal gods,
since you begot
the dissolute Volsungs?
I have spoken out plainly --
have I hit on your meaning?
The sacred kinship of the high gods
means nothing to you;
you cast away all
you once esteemed;
break the ties
you forged yourself;
Laughing, loose
heaven's bond -- so that, following pleasure and whim,
these wanton twins, licentious fruit
of your unfaithfulness, may hold sway!
But why do I wail
over wedlock and oath,
when you yourself were first to betray them!
You have constantly
deceived your faithful wife.
High and low,
your lustful eye
has peered questingly,
seeking to gratify your fickle fancy
and wounding my heart by your scorn!
Sadly grieved
I had to endure it
when you departed for battle
alongside the good-for-nothing wenches
born to you from
the union of unbridled love:
for you still held your wife sufficiently in awe
to enforce upon the Valkyrie band,
and even upon Brünnhilde,
bride of your wish,
obedience to their mistress.
But now that you have become
enamored of new names,
and as "Wälse," wolflike,
roamed the forest,
now, when hyou have lowered yourself
to basest shame
to beget a pair
of common mortals --
now you would fling down your wife
at the foot of the she-wolf's cubs!
Then finish your work,
fill the measure full:
trample upon the betrayed one as well!
["So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern?" at 1:08] Rita Gorr (ms), Fricka; George London (bs-b), Wotan; London Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf, cond. RCA-Decca, recorded in Walthamstow Assembly Hall, September 1961
["So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern?" at 1:18] Josephine Veasey (ms), Fricka; Thomas Stewart (b), Wotan; Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan, cond. DG, recorded in the Jesus-Chritus-KIrche, Aug.-Sept. & Dec. 1966
["So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern?" at 1:08] Yvonne Minton (ms), Fricka; Theo Adam (bs-b), Wotan; Staatskapelle Dresden, Marek Janowski, cond. Eurodisc-BMG, recorded in the Lukaskirche, Aug. 22-29, 1981
WAGNER: Die Walküre: Act II, Scene 1, from the Fricka-Wotan scene: Wotan, "Was verlangst du?" ("What do you desire?") . ;. . "Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre" ("Your eternal spouse's sacred honor") . . . "Heervater harret dein" ("The father of legions awaits you")
WOTAN [gloomily]: What do you desire?
FRICKA: Abandon the Volsung!
WOTAN [in a muffled tone]: Let him go his way!
FRICKA: But you -- do not protect him
when the avenger summons him to battle.
WOTAN: I shall not protect him.
FRICKA: Look me in the eye,
do not think to deceive me!
Let the Valkyrie turn from him too!
WOTAN: The Valkyrie is free to act as she chooses.
FRICKA: Not so! Your wishes
alone she fulfills.
Forbid her Siegmund's victory!
WOTAN [after a long internal struggle]: I cannot slay him;
he found my sword!
FRICKA: Withdraw the magic from it,
let it break for the slave --
let the foe see himdefenseless!
[BRÜNNHILDE's cry is heard from the heights.]
BRÜNNHILDE's voice: Heiaha! Heiaha!
Ho-jo-to-ho!
FRICKA: There's your valiant maid!
She comes galloping jubilantly hither.
BRÜNNHILDE's voice: Heiaha! &c.
WOTAN: I called her to horse for Siegmund!
[BRÜNNHILDE appears with her horse on the rocky path to the right, but catching sight of FRICKA she stops, then slowly and silently leads her horse down the path and leaves it in a cave.]
FRICKA: Your eternal spouse's
sacred honor
let her shield protect today!
Derided of men,
deprived of might,
we gods would be ruined,
if my rights sublime and glorious
were not to be avenged today
by the valiant maid.
The Volsung shall fall for my honor;
does Wotan confirm that by oath?
WOTAN [in a state of the most profound dejection mingled with exasperation, flinging himself down on a rocky seat]:
Take my oath!
[Striding towards the back, FRICKA meets the approaching BRÜNNHILDE. The two women regard each other for a moment in silence.]
FRICKA: The father of legions
awaits you:
let him inform you
how the lot is to fall!
[FRICKA drives quickly away.]
["Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre" at 2:02; "Heervater harret dein" at 3:27] George London (bs-b), Wotan; Rita Gorr (ms), Fricka; with Birgit Nilsson (s), Brünnhilde; London Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf, cond. RCA-Decca, recorded in Walthamstow Assembly Hall, September 1961
["Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre" at 2:11; "Heervater harret dein" at 3:37] Theo Adam (bs-b), Wotan; Yvonne Minton (ms), Fricka; with Jeannine Altmeyer (s), Brünnhilde; Staatskapelle Dresden, Marek Janowski, cond. Eurodisc-BMG, recorded in the Lukaskirche, Aug. 22-29, 1981
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WAGNER: Die Walküre: Act II, Scene 1:
from Wotan, "Der alte Sturm, die alte Müh'!"
["So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern" at 4:46; "Was verlangst du?" at 12:58; "Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre" at 15:26; "Heervater harret dein" at 17:01] David Ward (bs-b), Wotan; Josephine Veasey (ms), Fricka; with Amy Shuard (s), Brünnhilde; Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Georg Solti, cond. Live performance, Sept. 23, 1965
["So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern" at 4:57; "Was verlangst du?" at 13:57; "Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre" at 16:44; "Heervater harret dein" at 18:36] Thomas Stewart (b), Wotan; Josephine Veasey (ms), Fricka; with Régine Crespin (s), Brünnhilde; Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan, cond. DG, recorded in the Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Aug.-Sept. & Dec. 1966
["So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern" at 3:58.5; "Was verlangst du?" at 12:01; "Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre" at 14:32; "Heervater harret dein" at 16:14] Thomas Stewart (b), Wotan; Josephine Veasey (ms), Fricka; with Régine Crespin (s), Brünnhilde; Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan, cond. Live performance from the Salzburg Easter Festival, Apr. 10, 1968
["So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern" at 4:45.5; "Was verlangst du?" at 13:46.5; "Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre" at 16:30; "Heervater harret dein" at 18:20] Thomas Stewart (b), Wotan; Christa Ludwig (ms), Fricka; with Régine Crespin (s), Brünnhilde; Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan, cond. Live performance from the Salzburg Easter Festival, Mar. 19, 1967
["So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern" at 4:42; "Was verlangst du?" at 12:54; "Deiner ew'gen Gattin heilige Ehre" at 15:36.5; "Heervater harret dein" at 17:23] Hans Hotter (bs-b), Wotan; Christa Ludwig (ms), Fricka; with Birgit Nilsson (s), Brünnhilde; Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti, cond. Decca, recorded in the Vienna Sofiensaal, Oct. 29-Nov. 19, 1965
No comments:
Post a Comment