Siegfried Is the April 13, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Siegfried is the April 13, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering as 20th of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season's production of Wagner's Siegfried culminates in the young hero's rescue of the sleeping Brünnhilde: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018

Siegfried is the April 13, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as 20th of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883) wrote the libretto and composed the musical score for Siegfried. The Germanic- and Norse-inspired opera comprises the third of four epic music dramas in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). The sources for Wagner’s libretto include German and Norse traditions concerning Sigurd the hero.

Wagner’s Siegfried premiered Aug. 16, 1876, at Bayreuth Festspielhaus, designed and built by the composer-librettist in northern Bavaria, southeastern Germany. Siegfried’s premiere occurred as part of the first complete performance of Wagner’s Ring cycle. The presentation of the Ring’s first cycle, Das Rheingold, on Aug. 13, 1876, marked the opera house’s inauguration.

The Metropolitan Opera hosted the United States premiere of Siegfried on Nov. 9, 1887. In the 1887-1888 season, Siegfried received 11 performances.

The Metropolitan Opera’s U.S. premiere of Siegfried preceded the opera house’s hosting of the U.S. premiere of Das Rheingold, the Ring’s first cycle, by almost 14 months. Das Rheingold’s United States premiere took place Jan. 4, 1889, at the Metropolitan Opera.

The Metropolitan Opera’s U.S. premiere of Siegfried occurred two years and nine and one-third months after the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Die Walküre, the Ring’s second cycle. Die Walküre’s Met Opera premiere took place Jan. 30, 1885.

The Metropolitan Opera premiered the first cycle, Das Rheingold, after the second, Die Walküre. Met Opera hosted Das Rheingold’s United States premiere Jan. 4, 1889.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season offers three spring performances of Siegfried. The Ring’s third cycle opens Saturday, April 13, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. April’s performance airs as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 20th Saturday matinee radio broadcast.

The opera’s two additional performances take place in May. The month’s first performance is slated for Thursday, May 2. Siegfried’s closing performance is set for Thursday, May 9.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Siegfried has an estimated run time of 5 hours 6 minutes. Act I spans 82 minutes. An intermission of 37 minutes follows. Act II runs for 73 minutes. An intermission of 35 minutes precedes Act III, which is estimated at 79 minutes.

Philippe Jordan appears as the production’s conductor. The Swiss conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 19, 2002, in the opera company’s 196th performance of Die Fledermaus by Austrian light music composer Johann Strauss II (Oct. 25, 1825-June 3, 1899). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Philippe Jordan conducts all performances of the entire Ring cycle.

Christine Goerke appears as Brünnhilde, Wotan and Erda’s daughter, whom Siegfried finally rouses from her Wotan-ordered sleep. The American dramatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 3, 1995, in the ensemble role of Woman with Baby in the opera company’s eighth performance of The Ghosts of Versailles by American classical composer John Corigliano (born Feb. 16, 1938). During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Christine Goerke also appears as Brünnhilde in the Ring’s second and fourth cycles, Die Walküre and Götterdämmerung.

Erin Morley appears as Woodbird, whose singing directs Siegfried to Brünnhilde. The American coloratura soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as the First Madrigal in the opera company’s 211th performance of Manon Lescaut by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Erin Morley also performs as Pamina in The Magic Flute by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791) and as Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites by French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc (Jan. 7, 1899-Jan. 30, 1963).

Karen Cargill appears as Erda, goddess of the earth, who shares parentage of Brünnhilde with Wotan. The Scottish mezzo-soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 24, 2012, as Waltraute in the opera company’s 231st performance of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung. During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Karen Cargill also appears as Erda in the Ring’s first cycle, Das Rheingold, and also performs as Mother Marie in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites.

Stefan Vinke appears in the opening and closing night performances in the title role as Wotan’s grandson, who awakens Brünnhilde from her punishing sleep. The German tenor makes his Metropolitan Opera debut opening night April 13 in the role of Siegfried. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Stefan Vinke reappears as Siegfried in the Ring’s fourth and final cycle, Götterdämmerung.

Andreas Schager appears as Siegfried in the Thursday, May 2, performance. The Austrian operatic tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as Siegfried during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s April 27, 2019, performance of Götterdämmerung. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Andreas Schager follows his debut with a second performance, May 4, in Götterdämmerung.

Gerhard Siegel appears as Mime, Nibelung dwarf Alberich’s brother, whose attempt to poison Siegfried backfires. The German tenor reprises his Metropolitan Opera debut role, which happened March 20, 2004, in the opera company’s 147th performance of Das Rheingold.

Michael Volle appears as Wanderer, Wotan’s disguise, through which he releases his fear of the end of the gods (Götterdämmerung). The German baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 3, 2014, as Mandryka in the opera company’s 53rd performance of Arabella by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949). During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Michael Volle appears as Wotan in the Ring’s first and second cycles, Das Rheingold and Die Walküre.

Tomasz Konieczny appears as Alberich, who unsuccessfully tries to repossess the powerful Rhinegold ring that he had forged. The Polish bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as Alberich during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s March 14, 2019, performance of Das Rheingold. During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Tomasz also performs as Abimélech in Samson et Dalila by French Romantic Era composer Camille Saint-Saëns (Oct. 9, 1835-Dec. 16, 1921).

Dmitry Belosselskiy appears as Fafner, who has used the magic helmet, Tarnhelm, to shapeshift from a giant into a dragon and whose dragon blood enables Siegfried to understand Woodbird’s songs. The Ukrainian bass made his Metropolitan Opera debut Nov. 5, 2011, as Zaccaria in the opera house’s 54th performance of Nabucco by 19th century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Dmitry Belosselskiy first appears as Fafner in the Ring’s first cycle, Das Rheingold, and also performs as the Old Hebrew in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila; as Ramfis in Verdi’s Aida; and as Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Siegfried revive staging by John Lepage. The Canadian playwright and stage director’s staging debuted as a new production Oct. 27, 2011, in the opera house’s 263rd performance of Siegfried.

Robert Lepage’s production team comprises Neilson Vignola, associate director; Carl Fillion, set designer; François St-Aubin, costume designer; Etienne Boucher, lighting designer; and Pedro Pires, video image artist. The production’s revival stage directors are J. Knighten Smit and Stephen Pickover.

The takeaway for Siegfried as the April 13, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is that the Ring’s third cycle airs as 20th of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Saturday matinee radio broadcasts and continues the season’s Ring cycle productions.

Flawed yet heroic Siegfried rouses Brünnhilde (Christine Goerke), once a Valkyrie and now a mortal, from her punishing sleep in the Ring Cycle's third epic music drama, Siegfried: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook March 9, 2018

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season's production of Wagner's Siegfried culminates in the young hero's rescue of the sleeping Brünnhilde: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160137122770533/

Flawed yet heroic Siegfried rouses Brünnhilde (Christine Goerke), once a Valkyrie and now a mortal, from her punishing sleep in the Ring Cycle's third epic music drama, Siegfried: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook March 9, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160245161100533/

For further information:

“Debut: Dmitry Belosselskiy.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354136 Nabucco {54} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/05/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354136

“Debut: Erin Morley.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352344 Manon Lescaut {211} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/09/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352344

"Debuts: Hector Vásquez . . . Christine Goerke . . ." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 319890 The Ghosts of Versailles {8} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/3/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=319890

“Debuts: Karen Cargill.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354490 Götterdämmerung {231} Ring Cycle [109] Uncut. Metropolitan Opera House: 04/24/2012.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354490

“Debuts: Michael Volle, Catherine Wyn-Rogers. . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355411 Arabella {53} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/03/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355411

“Debuts: Rosemary Joshua, Peter Coleman-Wright, Christine Abraham, Philippe Jordan.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 350438 Die Fledermaus {196} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/19/2002.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350438

"Debuts: Yvonne Naef, Gerhard Siegel." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:350938 Das Rheingold {147} Ring Cycle {103} Uncut. Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 03/20/2004.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350938

Marriner, Derdriu. “Das Rheingold Is the March 9, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, March 4, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/03/das-rheingold-is-march-9-2019-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Die Walküre Is the March 30, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, March 25, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/03/die-walkure-is-march-30-2019-met-opera.html

Mesa, Franklin. Opera: An Encyclopedia of World Premieres and Significant Performances, Singers, Composers, Librettists, Arias and Conductors, 1597-2000. Jefferson NC; London, England: McFarland & Company, Inc. 2007.

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Christine Goerke, Soprano struck a fierce pose during yesterday's 2019 Ring Cycle photo shoot. The soprano sings Brünnhilde in Wagner's supreme operatic experience next season. Goerke currently stars in Strauss's Elektra through March 23. To purchase a full Ring cycle now visit: bit.ly/2txy8LO Photos by Jonathan Tichler/Met Opera.” Facebook. March 9, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160245161100533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Orphaned at birth, Siegfried learns his true identity and fulfills his destiny to become Brunnhilde’s savior and lover. Stefan Vinke and Andreas Schager sing the heroic title character. Christine Goerke sings Brunnhilde, and Greer Grimsley and Michael Volle sing the role of the enigmatic Wanderer. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2Gg4bkQ Photo by Ken Howard / Met Opera.” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160137122770533/

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Die Walküre.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 3450 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Die Walküre {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/30/1885.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=3450

“New Production: Das Rheingold.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353563 New Production Das Rheingold {156} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/27/2010.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353563

“New Production: Die Walküre.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353959 New Production Die Walküre {525} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/22/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353959

“New Production: Siegfried.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354117 New Production Siegfried {263} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/27/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354117

“United States Premiere: Das Rheingold.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 6970 United States Premiere Das Rheingold {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/4/1889.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=6970

“United States Premiere: Siegfried.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 6040 United States Premiere Siegfried {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/9/1887.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=6040