Richard Wagner: The Valkyrie - Ride of the Valkyries

From an opera concert with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera in Olavshallen, Trondheim, 11 March 2021.
Conductor: James Gaffigan
Concert master: Cam Kjøll

Valkyries:
Helmwige – Sigrid Vetleseter Bøe
Gerhilde – Camilla Stenhoff Vist
Schwertleite – Siv Oda Hagerupsen
Waltraute – Åse Krystad
Ortlinde – Tonje Eero Hove
Rossweisse – Maria Nohr
Grimgerde – Nina Sætherhaug

The singer supposed to sing Siegrune had to call off the concert at the very last minute, and so the rest of the Valkyries cover this part.

[tonypegler]

Oh Warfather on high
I am calling you from the battlefield
And as I take my last breath
I call for the mightiest of miracles

For none but the brave, be he king or a slave
With a pounding heart in his chest
Will be worthy to rise and with the Valkyries fly
And ride to the ancient Valhalla

Oh Warfather on high
Listen to my prayer
I lived my life by your rules
Oh let death cover me now

For none but the brave, be he king or a slave
With a pounding heart in his chest
Will be worthy to rise and with the Valkyries fly
And ride to Valhalla of old

[Chorus]

With the Valkyries, ride over the battlefield
Ride your horses and come to me
I'm waiting for you to take my soul, high in the sky to
Valhalla of old

Valkyries, ride over the battlefield
I'm dying and glad to bleed
Because I know today I will take my place with the heroes
In Valhalla of old

For none but the brave, be he king or a slave
With a pounding heart in his chest
Will be worthy to rise and with the Valkyries fly
And ride to Valhalla of old

[Chorus]

With the Valkyries, ride over the battlefield
Ride your horses and come to me
I'm waiting for you to take my soul, high in the sky to
Valhalla of old

Valkyries, ride over the battlefield
I'm dying and glad to bleed
Because I know today I will take my place with the heroes
In Valhalla of old

In The Halls of Valhalla I finally take my place
With my sword and my shield I enter Odin's realm
I'm an immortal spirit now with a heart made of steel
With the gods on high forever I will live and laugh at the
Fears of man

[iowndvc]

Love the score, but you know you're old when you hear the music and in you're mind you hear Elmer Fudd singing Kill the Wabbit.

[robertclark]

Looney Tunes is what taught me to appreciate
classical music and I passed it to my children. It was wonderful growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, wouldn’t trade my childhood for anything.

[kegginstructure]

When you are a battlefield and suddenly hear that music plus the shrieks, laughs, and songs of the Valkyries, get ready for a ride... to Valhalla.

[fugithegreat]

The fact that the women's voices can still carry over that hefty orchestra at full volume is amazing!

[putinkhuylo]

'Magnificent' is a gross understatement. Those ladies added another dimension to the performance. Bravo! 💥

[stupadasol]

Didn't understand a word they sang, but those women surpassed the orchestra in my enjoyment of the performance. Well done ladies.

[aaronag]

Absolutely outstanding. Gave me goosebumps and the hairs on my neck and arms were standing up. Sadly Ive never heard it sung by such amazing singers, Ive only ever heard the instrumental version. Ive saved this to watch again. Just truly soul inspiring vocals by all the ladies.

[anthonym.austin]

This is one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had, watching this performance

[johnedreslin]

So great to see the individual solo work which gets lost on recordings. I really liked the staggered entrances onto the stage. Really gets to the heart of the action.

[martinalenz]

Outstanding. Richard Wagner was a genius, indeed. Love his work.❤

[nsjjkss]

I flew helicopters in South Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry 1970-1971. And listening to this has me pumped up at age 75.

[OldGrayCzechWolf]

Just not the same without helmets and steel I love this piece along with the rest of the ring cycle. BTW, I don"t see Elmer Fudd hunting wabbits, I see Huey gunships and Robert DuVall assaulting a Vietnamese village. When I hear the fire magic music where Wotan summons Logi, I see massive space battleships with tiny auxillary craft flying to and fro.

[johnvalencia]

I never get tired of listening to this piece.

[bob_._.]

I like how the performers sitting in front of the slide trombones have head protection built into their chairs.

[iDuckman]

I love the staging. Simple and effective. And no horned helmets.
When I hear this I am reminded how well the human voice can stand up to a full orchestra without electrification.

[Edgardelan]

Outstanding Richard, outstanding!
I’ll get you a case of beer for that!

[merrigalebeddoes]

I was in a gifted program in elementary school. Our third grade curriculum consisted, in large part, of Norse mythology and Wagner’s ring cycle. Ride of the Valkyrie was my favorite part. It’s also kill the wabbit, the smell of napalm in the morning, and a Maxell commercial. This performance is definitely fantastic!!!

[hypercomms]

"WE USE WAGNER. IT SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF THE SLOPES. MY BOYS LOVE IT!"

[tiportangeles]

My pops used to put this on the record player and I run madly around the house and jump on the furniture. I miss the 60's.