[Met Performance] CID:184300



Die Walküre
Metropolitan Opera House, Wed, March 2, 1960




Die Walküre (388)
Richard Wagner | Richard Wagner
Brünnhilde
Margaret Harshaw

Siegmund
Karl Liebl

Sieglinde
Leonie Rysanek

Wotan
Jerome Hines

Fricka
Nell Rankin

Hunding
William Wilderman

Gerhilde
Carlotta Ordassy

Grimgerde
Martha Lipton

Helmwige
Heidi Krall

Ortlinde
Gloria Lind

Rossweisse
Margaret Roggero

Schwertleite
Belén Amparan

Siegrune
Helen Vanni

Waltraute
Mignon Dunn


Conductor
Karl Böhm





Photograph of Leonie Rysanek as Sieglinde in Die Walküre by Louis Mélançon/Metropolitan Opera.

Review 1:

Review of John Ardoin in Musical America
Leonie Leonie Rysanek’s Sieglinde is well known in Europe but this was her first performance of the role at the Metropolitan. Like everything she touches, this portrayal had an inspired, glowing quality about it. Miss Rysanek was not only a very fine actress but a lovely, believable Sieglinde. Though the part often proved a little too low for her voice to project it comfortably, her singing of "Der Manner Sippe" from the first act and "O hehrstes Wunder!" from the last act was memorable.

Karl Liebi was also heard in his first Siegmund at the Metropolitan. While this is a much better role for him than Tristan, he lacked sufficient volume in his upper register. His middle voice was firm and sure, but moments like the "Wälse! Wälse or "Siegmund heiss' ich" from the first act lacked the vocal power to give real dramatic impetus to them.

William Wildermann was heard in his first appearance this season as Hunding. His characterization was a foreboding one, but vocally I prefer a more sonorous sound in Hunding's music.

Karl Boehm conducted and the remainder of the cast was familiar, with Margaret Harshaw, Jerome Hines, and Nell Rankin.

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