Synopsis
In his Proms debut, Plácido Domingo joins Bryn Terfel, Lisa Gasteen and Waltraud Meier in a concert performance of Wagner's Die Walküre. The Orchestra of The Royal Opera is conducted by Antonio Pappano. Broadcast hosted by Charles Hazlewood. Performance of July 18, 2005 at Royal Albert Hall. Siegmund Plácido Domingo Sieglinde Waltraud Meier Hunding Eric Halvarson Wotan Bryn Terfel Brünnhilde Lisa Gasteen Fricka Rosalind Plowright Gerhilde Geraldine McGreevy Ortlinde Elaine McKrill Waltraute Claire Powell Schwertleite Rebecca De Pont Davies Helmwige Irene Theorin Siegrune Sarah Castle Grimgerde Clare Shearer Rossweisse Elizabeth Sikora Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Conducted by Anthony Pappano Act I: Sieglinde (Hunding's wife) is disturbed by a stranger (Siegmund). They are mysteriously drawn together. Hunding challenges the stranger to a fight. Sieglinde drugs her husband and takes Siegmund to the ash tree in which Wotan embedded the sword Notung. Siegmund extracts the sword and they flee. Act II: Wotan sends Valkyrie Brünnhilde to protect the couple against Hunding. Fricka, goddess of marriage, insists on Hunding's right to vengeance. Brünnhilde protects Siegmund. Wotan causes Notung to shatter, leaving Siegmund defenceless. After picking up the fragments of Notung, Brünnhilde rides off with Sieglinde. Act III: Brünnhilde sends Sieglinde away to give birth to her son, fathered by Siegmund. Wotan confronts Brünnhilde who defends her actions. He spares her life but consigns her to a magic fire.