After the prologue "The Rhinegold" ("Das Rheingold") follows the first of the three so-called nights: "The Valkyrie", ("Die Walküre"). The production was directed by the "psychoanalyst" Christoph Nel, who chose to reveal Wagner’s characters, their ambivalences and their conflicts, using contemporary settings, situations and gestures – excellently supported by the some of the best Wagner singer-actors of our time, including Angela Denoke in her role debut as Sieglinde. "The Valkyrie" continues the story of the Rhinedaughters' gold, the Ring of power which was forged from it, and the curse which falls on ist owner. The action moves to the Earth - where Siegmund and Sieglinde, the mortal children of Wotan, are introduced - and follows the downfall of Wotan's hopes that Siegmund will prove to be the hero who saves the gods. Brünnhilde, the Valkyrie (warrior maiden) who gives the opera its title, becomes inextricably bound up with Wotan's pursuit of his vision. "This first act is simply sensational ... acquiring a thrilling dynamic, with each new interpretative gesture, every seemingly whimsical detail fully supported by the staging of the scenes and music…" (Opera News)