"Die Walküre" Opens Tonight at Union Avenue Opera

Alexandra LoBianco & Timothy Bruno
Photo © Ron Lindsey, 2013 | All Rights Reserved

Timothy Bruno
Photo © Ron Lindsey, 2013
All Rights Reserved

Union Avenue Opera's four-year journey through Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle continues on the heels of 2012's successful mounting of Das Rheingold. The second installment, Die Walküre, showcases some of Wagner's most renowned music, including his famous "Ride of the Valkyries." UAO presents Die Walküre in a condensed and reduced version by composer Jonathan Dove. This will be the third time the Ring Cycle has been performed in St. Louis. Patricia Rice of the St. Louis Beacon reports that the last two were brought here in 1889 and 1930 by the touring German Opera Company.

Amber Smoke & James Taylor
Photo © Ron Lindsey, 2013 | All Rights Reserved

Wotan, ruler of the gods, wishes to protect his children, but is forced to forsake them when his twin offspring, Siegmund and Sieglinde, find themselves entangled in forbidden love. In an attempt to protect Siegmund, Brünnhilde, Wotan's Valkyrie daughter, disobey's her father's command and is duly punished: Wotan strips her of her immortality and puts her to sleep surrounded by a wall of flames that only the greatest hero can conquer.

Elise Quagliata
Photo © Ron Lindsey, 2013
All Rights Reserved

THE CAST

Three UAO veterans return for Die Walküre: Soprano Alexandra LoBianco, Leonora in 2009's Il Trovatore and the title role in 2011's Turandot, sings the role of Brünnhilde. Mezzo-Soprano Elise Quagliata returns to sing Fricka, the role she portrayed last season in Das Rheingold. Mezzo-Soprano Cecelia Stearman, who sang in Das Rheingold as earth goddess Erda, portrays the valkyrie Waltraute.

Six artists make their UAO debut. Bass Timothy Bruno sings the role of Wotan. Tenor James Taylor and Mezzo-Soprano Amber Smoke portray Siegmund and Sieglinde, respectively. Bass Nathan Whitson appears as Hunding, Sieglinde's husband. Soprano Melissa Sumner and Mezzo-Soprano Lindsey Anderson round out the cast as valkryies Helmwige and Rossweisse, respectively.

Alexandra LoBianco
Photo © Ron Lindsey, 2013
All Rights Reserved

THE CREW

UAO Artistic Director and Conductor Scott Schoonover leads the orchestra. Stage Director Karen Coe Miller returns after staging Das Rheingold last season. Allyson Ditchey serves as Stage Manager. The Design team includes Set & Lighting Designer Patrick Huber, Projection Designer Michael B. Perkins, Costume Designer Teresa Doggett and Production Manager Sean Savoie. Pianist Nancy Mayo serves as rehearsal pianist.

FRIDAY NIGHT LECTURES

Audience members who missed Scott Stearman's August 8th lecture have another opportunity to learn more about Die Walküre. Glen Bauer, Ph.D., Associate Chair of the Webster University Music Department, will give a lecture one hour before each Friday performance (August 16/23) in the Fellowship Gallery of Union Avenue Christian Church. Admittance to this lecture is free and open to the general public.

Nathan Whitson
Photo © Ron Lindsey, 2013
All Rights Reserved

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION

Want a chance to drink and be merry with cast and crew of Die Walküre on Opening Night? UAO hosts an Opening Night Reception on August 16 after the performance at Tavern of Fine Arts. Click here for more information.

DIE WALKÜRE IN THE MEDIA

Steve Potter chats with Karen Coe Miller, James Taylor and Alexandra LoBianco on a recent episode of Cityscape on 90.7 KWMU.

Patricia Rice of the St. Louis Beacon interviews the cast and crew of Die Walküre.

Sarah Bryan Miller speaks with director Coe Miller, conductor Schoonover and lead soprano LoBianco on the Jonathan Dove reduction and the opera's challenges for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

OnStl contributor Chuck Lavazzi previews the production.

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Die Walküre opens August 16 and runs August 17, 23, 24 at Union Avenue Opera, 733 N. Union Blvd. Performances begin at 8:00pm. Production sung in German with projected English supertitles. Tickets may be purchased online at www.unionavenueopera.org or by calling 314-361-2881.