Die Walküre: The Madness of an Extraordinary Plan, Hallé, Elder, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Wagner appears in his own opera in a bold semi-staged reimagining

by Philip RadcliffeSunday, 17 July 2011

In Act Zero of Manchester International Festival's 'Walküre', Wagner took to the stage himself

The Hallé Orchestra, enlarged for the occasion with harps, anvils, horns and such, was in its place on the platform. Sir Mark Elder made his entrance like a surgeon about to embark on a complex and energy-draining heart bypass operation. And the lights went out. On purpose. A spotlight picked up a man in a white shirt with long hair mounting the platform and making his way to a small table, chair and reading lamp mid-stage. It was Richard Wagner – in the form of actor Roger Allam. Pure melodrama.

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