Bernstein conducts Wagner: Gotterdammerung (Selection)

Notes

The selections from Götterdämmerung presented here construct an atmosphere of dramatic twilight, in which the fate of the gods is played out amid echoes of power and melancholy. The New York Philharmonic, led by Leonard Bernstein, blends horns and strings in a sonic texture that alternates epic thunder and crepuscular sighs. Eileen Farrell and Jess Thomas embody, respectively, the feminine nuances of yearning and the masculine vigor of tragedy, weaving vocal lines of extraordinary intensity. Bernstein chisels the passages with touches of suspension and furious outbursts, creating an operatic fresco that unites heroic impetus and poignant beauty in a single, compelling vision.