Most of César Franck’s works received scant attention at the time of their composition and Hulda was never performed in his lifetime. The narrative is set in 14th-century Norway at the time of the great tribal kings, with marauding hordes spreading fear and terror throughout the land. Hulda is kidnapped and transferred from one tribe to the other, her family is killed and she herself is humiliated. However, Hulda’s spirit cannot be crushed, and she survives with revenge as her goal in life. Franck’s music portrays raging clans, bloodthirsty murderers and shattered lives, but also moments of exquisite tenderness in this acclaimed revival of a forgotten masterpiece that places the role of Hulda among the great tragic stage heroines.

Hulda was César Franck’s last completed opera, and beside a very few incomplete performances it has remained undiscovered since its completion in 1885. This world-premiere recording sees Hulda fully restored using the original score housed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, with every scene left out of the published edition reinstated. In this way, and for the first time, the listener is able to experience this fantastic opera as Franck intended.

Award-winning American soprano Meagan Miller’s compelling stage presence, expansive colours and rich vocal texture has seen her acclaimed in celebrated roles throughout Europe and the US. A New York Times review described Miller as ‘an agreeably flexible interpreter’ with ‘considerable communicative powers’ who sang ‘with a combination of gracefulness and energy that got to the core of the music she offered’.

Cast:
- Hulda: Meagan Miller (soprano)
- Eiolf: Joshua Kohl (tenor)
- Swanhilde: Irina Jae Eun Park (soprano)
- Mother of Hulda: Anja Jung (contralto)
- Gudrun: Katerina Hebelková (mezzo-soprano)
- Aslak: Jin Seok Lee (bass)
- Arne: Jongsoo Yang (bass)
- Eyric: Roberto Gionfriddo (tenor)
- Eynar: Junbum Lee (tenor)
- Thrond: Seonghwan Koo (baritone)
- Gunnard: John Carpenter (baritone)
- Halgerde: Inga Schäfer (mezzo-soprano)
- Herald: Mateo Peñaloza Cecconi (baritone)
- Gudleik: Juan Orozco (baritone)
- Thordis: Katharina Ruckgaber (soprano)