Wagner's hero Siegfried, raised to know no fear, slays the dragon hoarding the gold with his magic sword
Seattle Opera’s Ring des Nibelungen Returns
Three Cycles Presented August 9 to 30
23 Countries and 49 States Represented at this Year’s Ring
Economic Benefits for Pacific Northwest Region Projected at Nearly $9.5 Million
Seattle—Seattle Opera’s signature production of Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen returned to McCaw Hall throughout August. The four operas that comprise the Ring—Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung—will be presented in three full cycles: August 9 to 14, August 17 to 22, and August 25 to 30.
Pictured above in Siegfried, the hero Siegfried performed by Stig Andersen, slays the dragon. The dragon is actually the giant Fafner, who has taken dragon form using a magic helmet.
Stephanie Blythe who performs Fricka has been named 2009 Artist of the Year. Critics have been raving about her as a Fricka for our times and a quintessential Wagnerian: big, bold, sexy and this time remarkably compassionate as the singer herself matures.
This award-winning production, first unveiled in 2001, was inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Pictured below, Richard Paul Fink as Alberich and Dennis Peterson as Mime; Fafner, the Dragon in Siegfried.
Director Stephen Wadsworth and conductor Robert Spano, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, return for this summer’s production, which features the creative team of set designer Thomas Lynch (a 2008 Seattle Opera Artist of the Year for his work on Iphigenia in Tauris and Flying Dutchman), costume designer Martin Pakledinaz, and lighting designer Peter Kaczorowski.
Pictured below, Stig Andersen as Siegfried with his magic sword in Siegfried.
“Every time we present Wagner’s Ring, we hope for a greater series of performances than we have given before,” said General Director Speight Jenkins. “The rehearsals this year have been extremely rewarding, and I have every reason to think that this will be a very great series of cycles indeed.”
Pictured below from the third part of the Ring Cycle, Siegfried, Greer Grimsley as The Wanderer.
Over 63 percent of the cast is new to this summer’s production, including Janice Baird as Brünnhilde, Stig Andersen as Siegfried, Kobie van Rensburg as Loge, and Stuart Skelton as Siegmund. Many Seattle Ring favorites are returning: among them are Greer Grimsley as Wotan/The Wanderer, Richard Paul Fink as Alberich, Margaret Jane Wray as Sieglinde and the Third Norn, and 2009 Artist of the Year Stephanie Blythe as Fricka, the Second Norn, and Waltraute (Götterdämmerung).
Pictured below, Norns in Gotterdammerung performed by Stephanie Blythe, Margaret Jane Wray and Luretta Bybee. Luretta, a mezzo, is married to Greer Grimsley who performs Wotan and The Wanderer. Their daughter alto Emma Grimsley, seventeen, plays a Woman in Black.
The Ring is expected to generate almost $9.5 million in economic benefits for Seattle this summer, drawing attendees from 49 states, 23 countries, and eight Canadian provinces. Tickets for the production are nearly sold out, although limited full cycle, single opera, and standing room spots remain.
Throughout August, Seattle Opera is also hosting a number of Ring festival activities at McCaw Hall and Fisher Pavilion. General Director Speight Jenkins will offer insights into each evening’s opera through his in-depth “Exploring the Ring” lectures. A symposium will be held during each cycle, featuring a variety of Wagner experts speaking about the composer and his work from their unique perspectives. Technical Director Robert Schaub will give audiences a glimpse into the Ring’s stage magic at his Tech Talks.
Pictured below from Gotterdammerung, Stig Andersen's Siegfried, Janice Baird's Brunnhilde, Star's Grane, their horse. Star listens to Ring music at the stable to prepare for her role on stage.
Ring paintings on display
The artwork of this summer’s New Visions artist, David Kreitzer, will be on display at McCaw Hall and Fisher Pavilion. Seattle Opera commissioned five Ring paintings from Kreitzer, who felt artistically compelled to continue with the subject. Kreitzer has created seventy Ring paintings—the product of more than two years’ work—which he will bring to the August exhibit.
Seattle Opera is unveiling a number of new activities at McCaw Hall and Fisher Pavilion under the auspices of its Wallace Foundation Excellence Award grant. During intermissions (and before curtain in the case of Das Rheingold) audience members may stop by any of eight television sets throughout McCaw Hall for a glimpse into the backstage action in the company’s “Behind the Scenes” video program.
Walkure Views interactive
To help audiences share their Ring experience with others, Seattle Opera created Walküre Views. This special online interactive program will let people choose from several Ring photos to create personalized postcard-like messages to email to friends and family, or to post directly to their own Facebook pages. Each image will also have a section where everyone can comment on, discuss, and rate the scenes they depict. Computer kiosks with touchscreen monitors will be available for Walküre Views at Fisher Pavilion and at McCaw Hall.
Ring blog, behind the scenes videos and confessions
On Seattle Opera’s website, guest bloggers have been invited to contribute to the Seattle Opera blog, and the blog will also feature a daily caption-writing contest. A new video series called The Road to Valhalla will give viewers a look behind the scenes into the complex activities that go into producing the Ring Cycle. Seattle Opera’s “Confessions of a First-Time Operagoer” project may also be viewed on the website.
Tickets for the Ring can be purchased online at seattleopera.org/ring, by calling the box office at 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619, or in person at 1020 John Street (two blocks west of Fairview) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The box office is also open on Saturdays during August from noon to 4 p.m. A limited number of standing room tickets are available for $20 per opera. These go on sale on the opening day of each cycle for the four operas that follow, and can only be purchased over the phone or in person.
The following cast list for Der Ring des Nibelungen replaces all previously announced artist lists.
Der Ring des Nibelungen
By Richard Wagner, Three Cycles Summer 2009
In German with English captions
OPERA
CYCLE I
CYCLE II
CYCLE III
Das Rheingold (7:00 p.m.)
(Sun) August 9
(Mon) August 17
(Tues) August 25
Die Walküre (6:00 p.m.)
(Mon) August 10
(Tues) August 18
(Wed) August 26
Siegfried (6:00 p.m.)
(Wed) August 12
(Thurs) August 20
(Fri) August 28
Götterdämmerung (6:00 p.m.) (Fri) August 14
(Sat) August 22
(Sun) August 30
The Artists
Conductor: Robert Spano
Director: Stephen Wadsworth
Set Designer: Thomas Lynch
Costume Designer: Martin Pakledinaz
Lighting Designer: Peter Kaczorowski
Original Hair and Makeup Designer: Denise O’Brien
Hair and Makeup Designer: Joyce Degenfelder
Fire Designer and Flight Technical Director: Charles T. Buck
English Captions: Jonathan Dean
German Language Coach: Irene Spiegelman
Casting
Brünnhilde
Janice Baird
Wotan/The Wanderer
Greer Grimsley
Siegfried
Stig Andersen†
Alberich
Richard Paul Fink
Sieglinde/Third Norn
Margaret Jane Wray
Siegmund
Stuart Skelton†
Fafner/Hagen
Daniel Sumegi
Fricka/Second Norn/Waltraute (Götterdämmerung)
Stephanie Blythe
Waltraute (Walküre)/First Norn
Luretta Bybee
Erda/Rossweisse
Maria Streijffert†
Loge
Kobie van Rensburg†
Fasolt/Hunding
Andrea Silvestrelli†
Froh
Jason Collins
Donner/Gunther
Gordon Hawkins
Mime
Dennis Petersen†
Freia/Ortlinde/Gutrune
Marie Plette
Woglinde/Forest Bird
Julianne Gearhart
Wellgunde/Grimgerde
Michèle Losier
Flosshilde/Schwertleite
Jennifer Hines
Helmwige
Sally Wolf
Gerhilde
Miriam Murphy†
Siegrune
Sarah Heltzel
Bear
JC Casiano
† Seattle Opera debut
8/5/09 Update
Photos: Rosarii Lynch and Chris Bennion, Seattle Opera
Note San Francisco Opera stages the second part of the series, Die Walkure, in June of 2010 with baritone Mark Delavan as Wotan, directed by Francesca Zambello.
For more info: www.SeattleOpera.org, www.SFOpera.com
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