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ZÜRICH OPERA TO MOUNT ITS FIRST COMPLETE PRODUCTION IN TWO DECADES OF WAGNER'S RING CYCLE

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exterior of the Opernhaus Zurich

Exterior of the Zürich Opera house ©Opernhaus Zürich

performance of Das Rheingold with Tomasz Konieczny as Wotan and Christopher Purves as Alberich

Das Rheingold with Tomasz Konieczny as Wotan and Christopher Purves as Alberich ©Monika Rittershaus

The Opernhaus Zürich recently premiered Das Rheingold as part of the first full production of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen in Zurich in 20 years.

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, June 7, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Opernhaus Zürich recently premiered Das Rheingold, the first work of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, as part of the first full production of the Ring Cycle in Zurich in 20 years. This theatrical feat represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and organization in an effort to do this timeless operatic collection justice. Over the next three years, the opera house will be presenting each of the four operas individually, followed by runs of the complete Cycle for 8 days in spring 2024, as follows:

- Das Rheingold, now performing
- Die Walküre, opening September 18, 2022
- Siegfried, opening March 5, 2023
- Götterdämmerung, opening November 5, 2023

The history of this classic can be traced back to the city of Zürich, where Wagner spent nine of his most productive years during his exile from Germany. During his prolonged stay, he created a significant portion of Der Ring des Nibelungen, and here the world saw its first glimpses of the cycle. Starting February 16, 1853, he presented all four pieces of work for the first time across four consecutive evenings at the renowned Hotel Baur au Lac. Wagner quickly found success in Zürich, which launched a prolific period of creativity for the composer, including a concert series featuring excerpts of Rienzi, Der fliegende Holländer, Tannhäuser, and Lohengrin that laid the foundations for the what the Bayreuth Festival would later become. This makes Opernhaus Zürich uniquely appropriate for presenting an authentic retelling of the works, immersed in the culture where they were conceived. Opernhaus Zürich will be cooperating with Zürich Tourism to allow audience members to relive Wagner's experiences in Zürich with a guided tour of the city featuring his most frequented spots.

Productions of the Ring Cycle are considered the most formidable undertakings for opera houses worldwide due to the high artistic and logistical demands of Wagner’s opus, and Opernhaus Zürich has assembled a talented cast and crew to meet the task. In their first time working together, Gianandrea Noseda and Andreas Homoki fill the roles of General Music Director and Stage Director respectively. Noseda has been General Music Director of the Opernhaus Zurich since the 2021/22 season. He is also Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, D. C.) and Principal Guest Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. Costume design is in the hands of Christian Schmidt, who is renowned for his ability to bring stories to life.

The part of Wotan will be sung by seasoned Wagner performer Tomasz Konieczny, whose career has taken him around the world, including Teatro Real Madrid, the Metropolitan Operan in New York, and the Opera National de Paris, before bringing him to Opernhaus Zürich. Other notable castings include Camilla Nylund as Brünnhilde and Klaus Florian Vogt as Siegfried, as well as Christopher Purves and Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke who play the dwarf brothers Alberich and Mime.
Opernhaus Zürich’s production is unique in that many characters who appear across multiple titles will be played by the same singers – a rare occurrence for productions of the Ring Cycle due to the frequency of scheduling conflicts during runs of the collection, which can last many years. Opera Director Annette Weber commented that “it’s wonderful that it’s worked out for us. And that’s especially the case when the four pieces are performed as a cycle. It’s so much fun to see how the characters develop.”

For more information and to book tickets, visit the opera house website here.

Ann-Rebecca Laschever
Geoffrey Weill Associates
+1 212-288-1144
ann@geoffreyweill.com

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