Richard WAGNER (1813–1883)
Die Walküre (The Valkyrie)

Matthias Goerne, Wotan (Baritone)
Michelle DeYoung, Fricka (Mezzo-Soprano)
Stuart Skelton, Siegmund (Tenor)
Heidi Melton, Sieglinde (Soprano)
Petra Lang, Brünnhilde (Soprano)
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Jaap van Zweden, Conductor

Comprising four separate operas, Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) is one of the supreme works in the history of music. Part II of the tetralogy, Die Walküre, centres on the young lovers Siegmund and Sieglinde, whose relationship angers Fricka, goddess of marriage, and on the disobedience of the Valkyrie Brünnhilde who is sent to carry out Fricka’s wishes. Performed by an all-star international cast, the work features thrilling set-pieces such as Wotan’s Farewell and the Ride of the Valkyries. The Prologue, Das Rheingold, can be heard on Naxos 8.660374-75, selected as ‘Album of the Week’ by The Sunday Times of London, which praised its ‘thrilling sense of drama’.

Jaap van Zweden has been Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic since 2012, and is also Music Director of the Dallas Symphony. His recording activities have included the complete Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner symphonies, and his Wagner repertoire – in addition to the Ring cycle – features Lohengrin, Parsifal and Tristan und Isolde.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is regarded as one of the leading orchestras in Asia. With a history stretching back to 1895, when it was formed as the Sino-British Orchestra, the HK Phil was re-named in 1957 and became fully professional in 1974.

Since Jaap van Zweden became Music Director in 2012, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has toured to various cities in China, to Taiwan, and to Europe, the highlight of which was the filming of a sold-out concert from the Musikverein in Vienna. In addition to recordings featuring works of Tan Dun and Bright Sheng, the orchestra is recording the first-ever performances by a Hong Kong or mainland Chinese orchestra of Wagner’s four-opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung for Naxos.

Matthias Goerne has appeared on the world’s principal opera stages, including the Royal Opera House, Teatro Real Madrid, Paris National Opera, Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. His artistry has been documented on numerous recordings, many of which have received prestigious awards including four GRAMMY® nominations, an ICMA award, and the Diapason d’or Arte.

Mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung is a multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist whose discography includes Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder, Das klagende Lied and Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3, Berlioz’s Les Troyens and Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle. Her many rôles include Fricka, Sieglinde, Kundry, Waltraute and Venus, Amneris, Eboli, and the title rôle in Samson et Dalilah.

Stuart Skelton is acknowledged as one of the finest heldentenors of his generation, being critically acclaimed for his outstanding musicianship, tonal beauty and intensely dramatic portrayals. His rôles include the title rôles in Lohengrin, Rienzi, Parsifal, and Peter Grimes, as well as Florestan in Fidelio, and Siegmund in Die Walküre among others.

Heidi Melton has been described as “the Wagnerian voice we have been waiting for since Flagstad and Nilsson”, and has sung the rôle of Sieglinde at the Deutsche Opera, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, and the Canadian Opera Company. She has sung Brünnhilde with the Opéra National de Bordeaux and the Third Norn in the Metropolitan Opera production of The Ring.

Soprano Petra Lang is known for her outstanding interpretation of roles such as Brünnhilde (Der Ring des Nibelungen), Ortrud (Lohengrin), and Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde) among others. She has won numerous awards including two GRAMMY® Awards for her Cassandre on the LSO’s live recording of Berlioz’ Les Troyens.