The Production

 

As Wagner’s majestic music humanizes the mythic figures of legend—giants, dragons, gods and heroes—the timeless tale unfolds in Francesca Zambello’s visually arresting production. Get a glimpse.

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Explore The Ring

THE ARTISTS

The artists of the Ring summer 2018


Donald Runnicles, one of the world’s foremost Wagnerian conductors, returns to lead an exceptional international cast of the world's leading Wagnerians, including the Company debuts of Evelyn Herlitzius as Brünnhilde, Daniel Brenna as Siegfried and Falk Struckmann as Alberich. Directed by Francesca Zambello, the production also stars Greer Grimsley as Wotan/The Wanderer, Karita Mattila as Sieglinde, Brandon Jovanovich as Froh and Siegmund, and Jamie Barton as Fricka and Waltraute.

Meet the Artists

Notes from Creative

Francesca Zambello

“The Ring is always contemporary. We are presenting a world in some ways familiar to our audience but also one that will feel very mythic as we look to our country’s rich imagery. The great themes of the Ring—nature, power and corruption—resound through America’s past and haunt our present."

–Francesca Zambello, Director

A Message from Francesca

Donald Runnicles

"Come to the Ring with a desire for adventure. Wagner’s remarkable mythical odyssey throws light on human nature from true love, greed, power and possession to parenthood and moral maturity. Its timeless relevance and deeply human insights touch each of our lives profoundly and unforgettably."

–Donald Runnicles, Conductor

THE BUZZ

"Donald Runnicles’ musical direction was virtually faultless, as rich and eloquent a presentation of this music as one is ever likely to hear"

–The Classical Review

"Experience spine-chilling moments that transcend a superbly executed performance and thrust the spectator into that elusive realm of sublime emotion and passionate ecstasy."

–Opera Now

"Zambello is a brilliant story-teller....She is adept at finding the dramatic kernel of a scene, translating words and sung phrases into something that is compelling on stage."

–The Classical Beat

MADE POSSIBLE BY

Dr. and Mrs. William M. Coughran; Bertie Bialek Elliott; Keith and Priscilla Geeslin; John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn; Sylvia and John Hughes; Edmund W. and Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Fund; Bernard and Barbro Osher; Betty and Jack Schafer; The Thomas Tilton Production Fund; Barbara A. Wolfe; United Airlines; Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem; and Joan and David Traitel, through the Great Singers Fund.

Co-production with Washington National Opera.