Mats Norrman's posting on the lyric power of the Icelandic Eddas reminded
me of a striking, contemporary Icelandic opera which the Curious Wagnerite
- or anybody else for that matter - might well care to investigate.

This is "Gudrun's 4th Song" by Haukur Tomasson (b.1940).  It's on BIS (CD
908) and is perhaps one of that adventurous company's happiest finds.  The
terse libretto is derived from the Edda, and features most of the usual
suspects; Brynhildur, Sigurdur, Gudrun, Gunnar and Hogni (Hagen) as well
as Atli (Brynhildur's brother, and Gudrun's last husband).

The score is not quite like anything else, an austerely delicate tapestry
of chamber music, burgeoning at times into powerful, sweeping tragedy.  All
in all, a refreshing draught of ice-cold spring water after those extended
"magic moments" in "The Ring" so fulsomely evoked by Mats!

Christopher Webber,  Blackheath, London,  UK.
http://www.nashwan.demon.co.uk/zarzuela.htm
"ZARZUELA!"