On the 14th of March, at Club “Opera”, a concert lecture by assoc. prof. Petar Plamenov took place titled: “You are the Spring I Long for: female protagonists in the “Der Ring des Nibelungen” tetralogy by Richard Wagner”.
For the second time, assoc. prof. Plamenov attended the traditional Sofia Opera Saturday matinees dedicated to the German Master’s work. These meetings attract Wagner fans and the latter have the opportunity to meet some of the singers who take part in our performances.
This time, special guests were Alma-Lisa Bandalovska who performed an opera fragment as Sieglinde; then, we also heard Gergana Rusekova perform a fragment from “Die Walküre” as Brunhilde. Maria Pavlova performed the Forest Bird’s aria from “Siegfried”. The singers were accompanied by the German maestro Thomas Gribov who has been working together with our artists for more than ten years.
Assoc. prof. Plamenov told an intriguing and inspired tale of the complex relationships intertwined in the tetralogy’s history and revealed why the female protagonists are the true morale compass for the male protagonists who are obsessed with a lust for power and are blinded by passion.
There is a total of 22 main female characters in Richard Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen” tetralogy from a total of 35 characters: gods as well as Valkyries, nymphs, Nibelung dwarves, heroic men, just as irresistible women heroines etc.
A maiden, a loved one, a mother, a goddess, a wise adept witch: women are not just objects of desire, they carry within themselves a revelation for the great truth of life as well as for the initial cosmic order; that’s why they not only make prophecies but the future is literally realized through these women and the old and worn world is reborn”, assoc. prof. Plamenov said. His tale was illustrated through specially chosen video materials from “Das Rheingold” and “Die Walküre”.
Meeting moderator: Valentin Stamov.
All guests received a special discount for purchasing tickets for the Wagner festival which will take place from the 26th of May till the 14th of June, 2026, when the “Der Ring des Nibelungen” tetralogy, “Lohengrin” and “Tannhäuser” will be performed.
