This will be the first time Wagner's The Valkyrie will be performed in full length in Iceland and the first opera from The Ring of the Nibelung which will be performed in full length in Iceland. Conductor will be Royal Danish Opera's Chief Conductor Alexander Vedernikov, director will be Julia Burbach, Staff Director of The Royal Opera in Covent Garden and BAFTA award winning video designer Tal Rosner will create visuals for the performance.
One of Britain's most successful tenors Christopher Ventris takes on the role of Siegmund, Claire Rutter sings Sieglinde and Frode Olsen sings Hunding. Ólafur Kjartan Sigurðarson will sing the role of Wotan for the first time, 2018 BBC Music Magazine Vocal Award winner Jamie Barton sings Fricka and dramatic soprano Christine Goerke sings Brünnhilde.
The Valkyries will be performed by these Icelandic singers:
Helmvige: Lilja Gudmundsdottir
Gerhilde: Sigrun Pálmadottir
Ortlinde: Margret Hrafnsdottir
Waltraute: Sigridur Osk Kristjansdottir
Sigerune: Agnes Thorsteins
Roβweiβe: Nathalia Druzin Halldorsdottir
Grimgerde: Hildigunnur Einarsdottir
Schwertleite: Svanhildur Palmadottir
The first Wagner opera performed in full length in Iceland was The Flying Dutchman in May 2002 which was then a collaboration between Iceland Symphony Orchestra, The Icelandic Opera, Reykjavik Arts Festival and The National Theatre of Iceland. The Ring of the Nibelung was performed in a shorter version at Reykjavik Arts Festival in 1994 in collaboration with Iceland Symphony Orchestra, The Icelandic Opera, The National Theatre of Iceland and the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth.