Die Walkure - Questions and Answers

Photo Credit: Andrea Mohin /NY Times Review /Brunnehilde and Wotan

Ceilidh, Dalton, Kelvin and I went armed with snacks to Die Walkure, the second in the four part series of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Our snacks were M&M Peanuts, Redfoots and Dino-sours, topped up with popcorn from Wyona. Dalton had Strawberry Frutopia, Ceilidh a Coke and Kelvin, the best of all drinks – ice-water. And we ordered hot dogs and chips and cheese dip at one of intermissions. This was a l-o-n-g opera – where else is there a theatre with a production that is five hour and 35 minutes.

The plot is built around Norse mythology, much of which Dalton already has a handle on. We brushed up on facts about the opera as we waited for the show to start. There was a small glitch in the computer that runs “the machine” on which the action revolves, and that was enough time for us to refresh our memories about the characters we were about to see.

I promised a cash reward for any three questions that could stump Kelvin when the show was over. On the way home, Ceilidh and Dalton began their question and answer period with him.

1. What is a valkyrie?
(ANSWER: in Norse mythology, a Valkyrie is a woman who decides which heroes will be slain in battle (chooser of the slain). They bring the bodies back to the Valhalla which is presided over by Odin.)

2. What is the name of the sword that Siegmund needs to defeat Hundig?
(ANSWER: Sigmund names the sword “Nothung” which means needful.)

3. The sword was stuck into what kind of tree
(ANSWER: Ash tree)

4. Who composed the opera?
(ANSWER: Richard Wagner)

5. Who is the maestro for this production of the opera?
(ANSWER: Richard Levine)

6. What is the last name of the twins, Siegmund and Sieglinda
(ANSWER: the Walsung Twins ... with two dots above the “a”)

7. What is the name of Wotan’s wife whom we met in Das Rheinegold?
(ANSWER: Frika – the Guardian of Marriage)

8. What is Wotan’s daughter’s name?
(ANSWER: Brunnehilde)

9. Who is Brunnehilde’s mother?
(ANSWER: Erda: the personification of the earth)

10. Who is the hero in Der Walkure?
(ANSWER: Brunnehilde)

11. Name the demi-god of fire who establishes a ring of fire around Brunnehilde to protect her? (ANSWER: Loge)

12. Who is wolf cub?
(ANSWER: Sigmunde)

All of these answers are easier to remember when there is money involved.

Arta