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A New Beginning

Wagner selects the town of Bayreuth as the site for his new theatre, but the costs quickly spiral out of hand. Presented by Donald Macleod.

Wagner selects the town of Bayreuth as the site for his new theatre, but the costs quickly spiral out of hand. Presented by Donald Macleod.

This week, Donald Macleod follows Wagner on his decades-long journey to realise his dream of building his own music theatre, and establishing a festival there dedicated to his music. We see how Wagner’s revolutionary ideas and vaulting ambition struggled against the reality of securing supporters, raising finances, and inspiring audiences.

Today: Wagner puts his troubled relationship with King Ludwig behind him. He starts up an ambitious new theatre project in the Bavarian town of Bayreuth, but will the composer be able to meet the enormous financial challenges without Ludwig’s help?

Lohengrin: Act 3, “Treulich geführt ziehet dahin” (Bridal March)
Vienna State Opera Choir
Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Claudio Abbado

Tristan and Isolde: Act 2, “O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe…” (Love duet)
Peter Hofmann, tenor (Tristan)
Hildegard Behrens, soprano (Isolde)
Yvonne Minton, mezzo-soprano (Brangäne)
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Die Walküre, Act 3 opening (The Ride of the Valkyries)
Birgit Nilsson, soprano (Brünnhilde)
Helga Dernesch, soprano (Ortlinde)
Berit Lindholm, soprano (Helmwige)
Vera Schlosser, soprano (Gerhilde)
Brigitte Fassbaender, mezzo-soprano (Waltraute)
Vera Little, mezzo-soprano (Siegrune)
Claudia Hellmann, mezzo-soprano (Roßweiße)
Marilyn Tyler, mezzo-soprano (Grimgerde)
Helen Watts, contralto (Schwertleite)
Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Sir Georg Solti

Siegfried: Act 3, “Mit zerfochtner Waffe wich mir der Feige”
Siegfried Jerusalem, tenor (Siegfried)
Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim

Gotterdämmerung: Prologue, Sunrise and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey
Birgit Nilsson, soprano (Brünnhilde)
Wofgang Windgassen, tenor (Siegfried)
Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Sir Georg Solti

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Richard Wagner

    Lohengrin: Act 3, "Treulich geführt ziehet dahin" (Bridal March)

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 437808-2.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 1.
  • Richard Wagner

    Tristan and Isolde: Act 2, "O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe..." (Love duet)

    Singer: Peter Hofmann. Singer: Hildegard Behrens. Singer: Yvonne Minton. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • PHILIPS : 438 241-2.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 1.
  • Richard Wagner

    Die Walküre, Act 3 opening (The Ride of the Valkyries)

    Singer: Birgit Nilsson. Singer: Brigitte Fassbaender. Singer: Helga Dernesch. Singer: Berit Lindholm. Singer: Vera Schlosser. Singer: Vera Little. Singer: Helen Watts. Singer: Claudia Hellmann. Singer: Marilyn Tyler. Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • DECCA : 455-559-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 1.
  • Richard Wagner

    Siegfried: Act 3, "Mit zerfochtner Waffe wich mir der Feige"

    Singer: Siegfried Jerusalem. Orchestra: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Barenboim.
    • TELDEC : 4509-94193 2.
    • TELDEC.
    • 5.
  • Richard Wagner

    Gotterdämmerung: Prologue, Sunrise and Siegfried's Rhine Journey

    Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Conductor: Georg Solti. Singer: Birgit Nilsson. Singer: Wolfgang Windgassen.
    • DECCA : 455-570-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 4.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 29 Sep 2021 12:00
  • Wed 22 Feb 2023 12:00

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