Following the 2015 release of The Rhinegold – the Vorabend or “preliminary evening” of Richard Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelung – and of The Valkyrie in 2019, BR-KLASSIK is now releasing Siegfried as the second day of the enthusiastically received tetralogy under Sir Simon Rattle – recorded live on 3 and 5 February 2023 at Munich’s Isarphilharmonie im Gasteig. With The Rheingold, Rattle had already decisively refuted the longstanding claim that he and Wagner were not a good match, and with The Valkyrie, he dispelled any remaining doubts. His recent performance of Siegfried – with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and a first-class lineup of Wagner singers – proves yet again how well the conductor understands and is able to interpret Wagner’s music. Now, just a few months after the live event, this powerful and immensely popular music drama has been released on three outstanding CDs.

Wagner’s Siegfried tells the story of how the hero forges his own sword, gains invulnerability by slaying the dragon and bathing in its blood, and finally conquers Brünnhilde. The outstanding soloists include Simon O’Neill (Siegfried), Peter Hoare (Mime), Michael Volle (The Wanderer/Wotan), and Anja Kampe (Brünnhilde). Moreover, orchestral highlights of Siegfried such as the lyrical “Forest Murmurs” or the prelude to Act Three are brilliantly performed by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. As Simon Rattle says: “Siegfried contains some of the most dramatic, richly-coloured and enchanting music Wagner ever wrote. I am looking forward immensely to the continuation of our ‘Ring’, together with the greatest singers one could ever wish for.”

Cast:
- Siegfried: Simon O’Neill
- Mime: Peter Hoare
- The Wanderer: Michael Volle
- Alberich: Georg Nigl
- Fafner: Franz-Josef Selig
- Woodbird: Danae Kontora
- Erda: Gerhild Romberger
- Brünnhilde: Anja Kampe