Die Walküre

Union
Avenue Opera’s four year journey through 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 celebrated
music, including his famous “Ride of the Valkyries.”



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 Sigmund,
Brünnhilde, Wotan’s Valkyrie daughter,
disobeys 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.



"Die Walküre" is reduced and adapted by
English composer Jonathan Dove. His masterful cuts condense the opera in length
to under three hours and will be enhanced by video projections befitting the
magnificent grandeur of the Ring cycle.



Elise Quagliata returns to UAO, where she will
continue her portrayal of the Goddess Fricka. Joining her onstage as the
warrior daughters Brünnhilde and Waltraute are Alexandra LoBianco (Turandot,
"Turandot") and Cecelia Stearman (Erda, "Das Rheingold")
respectively. New faces will be bountiful in "Die Walküre" as we
welcome James Taylor (Siegmund); Amber Smoke (Sieglinde); Nathan Whitson
(Hunding); Timothy Bruno (Wotan); Melissa Sumner (Helmwige); and Lindsey
Anderson (Roβweiβe).



August 16, 17, 23, 24 at 8pm



"Die Walküre" will be presented in German
with projected English supertitles.



Friday Night Lecture Series: August 16 and 23

Join us for our Friday Night Lecture Series at 7pm
in the Fellowship Hall presented by Glen Bauer, Ph. D., Associate Chair,
Department of Music at Webster University. Lectures are free and open to the
public.

To purchase tickets, call 314.361.2881, or visit our website at www.unionavenueopera.org.