German maestro Thielemann continues to wow Bayreuth in 'Die Walkuere'

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

BAYREUTH, Germany (AFP) — The first week of the 96th Bayreuth Festival reached its halfway mark here on Saturday with a musically satisfying performance of "Die Walkuere" (The Valkyrie).

Canadia's Adrianne Pieczonka stole the show with her rich, gleaming mezzo and gripping portrayal as the unhappy Sieglinde, who falls in love with her long-lost brother Siegmund.

German tenor Endrik Wottrich, a Bayreuth regular in recent years, was the doomed Siegmund, but sounded strangled and strained from his very first entry, with his voice nearly failing him by the end of Act II.

Korean bass Kwangchul Youn was excellent as the evil Hunding, and South African mezzo Michelle Breedt gave a solid performance of Fricka.

US soprano Linda Watson was more problematic in...