Wagner: Die Walküre

01/02/2007
Paul Turok
Turok's Choice (US)

This enterprising Australian label has released two well performed and brilliantly-recorded hybrid SACDs: Wagner’s Die Walküre (MR301091-94, four discs) and Hérold’s path-breaking 1827 ballet, La somnambule (MR301087). The Wagner is performed by an international cast with a number of Australian-born-and-trained singers of whom Elizabeth Campbell (Fricka) and Stuart Skelton (Siegmund) are the most prominent. Both sing impressively ... as does Deborah Riedel (Sieglinde). In the all important roles of Wotan and Brünnhilde, John Bröcheler and Lisa Gasteen have their moments ... Bröcheler ... handles the gorgeous “farewell” music splendidly. Richard Green, like most Hundings, sings strongly. The Adelaide Symphony ... plays with virtuosity. The Valkyries sing beautifully, never shrieking and generally hitting their notes on the button. Asher Fisch leads a crisp, carefully phrased performance that keeps moving ...