Der Ring Des Nibelungen

Seattle has been recognized as the Wagner capital of America for more than a quarter of a century, producing one-week cycles of Wagner’s Der Ring Des Nibelungen in the tradition of the Bayreuth Festival in Germany, which since 1876 has been the international shrine of Wagner productions.

The 2009 Ring cycle cast includes American soprano Janice Baird as Brünnhilde, Danish tenor Stig Fogh Andersen as Siegfried, and Australian tenor Stuart Skelton as Siegmund, all of whom are new to the production. Bass-baritone Greer Grimsley returns as Wotan/The Wanderer, a role that he first sang in the 2005 production and for which he won the Seattle Opera Artist of the Year award. Other returning singers are baritone Richard Paul Fink as Alberich, soprano Margaret Jane Wray as Sieglinde and the Third Norn, and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe as Fricka, First Norn, and Waltraute (Götterdämmerung). Ms. Blythe previously sang Fricka and the Second Norn in all Seattle Ring performances since 2000.

The 2009 Ring is directed by Stephen Wadsworth, with sets designed by Thomas Lynch, costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, and lighting by Peter Kaczorowski. Robert Spano, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, who conducted his first Ring for the company in 2005, returns to Seattle Opera to conduct the 2009 performances.

Cycle I
Das Rheingold – Sunday, August 9, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Die Walküre – Monday, August 10, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Siegfried – Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Götterdämmerung – Friday, August 14, 2009 6:00 p.m.

Cycle II
Das Rheingold – Monday, August 17, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Die Walküre – Tuesday, August 18, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Siegfried – Thursday, August 20, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Götterdämmerung – Saturday, August 22, 2009 6:00 p.m.

Cycle III
Das Rheingold – Tuesday, August 25, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Die Walküre – Wednesday, August 26, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Siegfried – Friday, August 28, 2009 6:00 p.m.
Götterdämmerung – Sunday, August 30, 2009 6:00 p.m.