Die Walküre

Robert F. Denzler
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Date/Location
4 May 1951
Victoria Hall Genève
Recording Type
  live   studio
  live compilation   live and studio
Cast
Siegmund Torsten Ralf
Hunding Herbert Alsen
Wotan Ludwig Hofmann
Sieglinde Helene Werth
Brünnhilde Gertrude Grob-Prandl
Fricka Georgine von Milinković
Helmwige Nancy Waugh
Gerhilde Ilona Steingruber
Ortlinde Polly Batic
Waltraute Nasia Berowska
Siegrune Nelly Turtach
Grimgerde Georgine von Milinković
Schwertleite Ilonka Dostal
Roßweiße Edmée Défago
Gallery
Reviews
David Harbin

I recently bought a copy of a 1951 live Walkure, recorded in Victoria Hall, Geneva. The concert performance was made weeks after the Geneva opera house burned down.

Golly. First, the sound is first-rate with all sections of the orchestra remarkably clear and the voices are well integrated within the sound picture. Unlike many broadcast Bayreuth recordings from the same period the timps and horns have real impact, for example as Siegmund pulls out the sword and the thunder claps in the opening prelude. You can hear the hall, which I like as there is air around voices and instruments.

Werth is a steady and charming Siegline, with real youth and beauty in her voice. I believe her Sieglinde totally and it is one of the best I’ve ever heard. How on earth has this voice slipped beneath the radar?

Ralf is also steady and assured, with passion in the final scene of Act I. Grob-Prandl is all one could ask for. Real heft but also the ability to melt into the character rather than just belt out the role. Most impressive.

The total surprise was Denzler. He shapes the drama in a most exciting way and hears the colours in the score. Amazing that his recording profile is virtually non-existant.

My comments are tempered by the fact that CD3 on the set is faulty and does not play at all. An acid test in Walkure is obviously the Farewell, especially the orchestral crescendo as Wotan kisses away Brunnhilde’s godhead. Having heard Acts I and II I am extremely excited about getting the replacement set and hearing the performance complete.

22 May 2005 (OPERA-L Archives)

Rating
(8/10)
User Rating
(3/5)
Media Type/Label
Gebhardt, Walhall Eternity
Technical Specifications
550 kbit/s VBR, 44.1 kHz, 693 MByte (flac)
Remarks
Broadcast of a concert performance