Press
Thielemann’s „Götterdämmerung“ at the Semperoper Dresden: Two farewells and Brünnhilde’s debut
In addition to the two farewells mentioned above, Ricarda Merbeth’s scenic-cyclical role debut as Brünnhilde turned out to be the absolute sensation of this Ring. So far she has only performed the role in individual performances or in concert. At the Semperoper she showed potential to become one of the world’s leading representatives of the role of Brünnhilde in the years to come. Her clear articulation even in the high registers and her self-confident scenic acting reveal a meticulous approach to her part. Merbeth conducted her stirringly harrowing and spacious soprano voice confidently and adeptly across all registers. In the lower registers she occasionally slipped into declamation to lend particular emphasis to individual words, for example in the dialogue with the Gibichungen.
