© In höchsten Tönen! THE VALKYRIE — Act I: Opera in the Crypt
Vienna, Peterskirche — Krypta
About the Event
A musical event of overwhelming intensity
Experience Wagner’s passionate yet intimate first opera act, featuring an exquisite cast and top‐notch piano accompaniment, in a unique venue: the crypt of St. Peter’s Church.
The first act of Wagner’s *Die Walküre* ranks among the most impressive scenes in musical theater—compact, suspenseful, and rich in musical expressiveness. The unique acoustics of the vaulted ceiling make Wagner’s musical language seem more transparent and immediate, while the proximity between the audience and the performers ensures an intense, extraordinary opera experience.
Siegmund’s arrival, his growing bond with Sieglinde, and the momentous discovery of the sword coalesce into a musical arc of great tension.
The combination of the historic setting, meticulous musical interpretation, and the concentrated form of Act 1 creates an evening of opera that appeals to both connoisseurs and newcomers alike. An unforgettable experience—immediate, intense, and captivating.
The crypt is comfortably tempered year‐round.
Plot:
During a storm, Siegmund—wounded and exhausted—seeks refuge in the forest hut of Hunding, a warrior of the tribe. When Sieglinde, Hunding’s wife, finds the stranger, she immediately feels deep compassion and a mysterious bond with him.
Siegmund explains that he is fleeing from enemies. Hunding returns home and offers him shelter for the night. But when he realizes that Siegmund is the very man he has been pursuing, he declares that they will fight the next morning.
While Hunding sleeps, Siegmund and Sieglinde grow closer. Sieglinde shows him a sword stuck in the trunk of the ash tree growing in the middle of the hut. No man has ever been able to pull it out. She explains that a mysterious, one‐eyed stranger (Wotan) once thrust the sword into the tree for the one who would one day be able to draw it.
Siegmund realizes that this sword is meant for him. The mutual affection between him and Sieglinde grows until they confess their love for one another. Sieglinde reveals that she lives unhappily and without freedom in Hunding’s house.
In a passionate climax, Siegmund pulls the sword from the tree trunk and names it Nothung. Sieglinde realizes that they are twins and the children of Wotan. Despite the taboo against incest, the two celebrate their love and flee together into the night.
Practical Information
The 'Opera in the Crypt' series is a unique form of presenting opera at its very essence. With piano accompaniment, talented singers in costumes perform the works in the exceptional, intimate atmosphere of the crypt under St. Peter's Church. Through the short distance between audience and musicians you can experience opera in a way you have never heard or seen it before.
Program
- Richard Wagner – Act 1 Die Walküre
Cast / Production
Sieglinde — Maria Kahry, soprano
Siegmund — Sergio Tallo‐Torres, tenor
Hunding — Florian Pejrimovsy, bass‐baritone
Conductor: Victoria Vasilchenko
Address
Peterskirche, Petersplatz, Vienna, Austria — Google Maps
