On the Third Day of Christmas, a father's love for his daughter set to the glorious music of Richard Wagner. This is Wotan's farewell to Brunhilde from the final moments of Die Walkure, the second of four operas known as The Ring of Nibelung. The opening few seconds of the passage below are amazing with the horns bursting forth as Wotan passionately says goodbye to his favorite child. What I admired about this particular production, taken from the MET in the early 90's, were the lovely portrayals of character by both James Morris as Wotan and the late Hildegard Behrens as Brunhilde. In a word: Brilliant!
A prayer for the season of Christmas:
O God, who welcomes us without fail in spite of our failings, strengthen us in your love and hospitality that we might welcome the stranger who scares us as well as the relative that annoys us. Teach us to make room for your love to be born in us, even if it makes a bloody mess of things. AMEN.
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