New Met Production of "Ring Cycle" Broadcast by PBS

For the first time in over 20 years, the Metropolitan Opera offers a lavish new production of the “Ring Cycle” of operas by Richard Wagner. All four of the epic operas and a documentary film about the making of the cycle will be broadcast in a PBS special series, Great Performances at the Met.  Witf TV viewers can watch the series on consecutive weekday evenings, beginning on Monday, September 10 with the documentary, Wagner’s Dream.  All programs begin at 9 pm.

Staging this cycle of four operas has always been considered the supreme challenge for any opera company. The new production by the Met attempts to meet that difficult challenge by employing state-of-the-art technology which includes high definition video projection.  

The director of the new ring Cycle is Robert Lepage, who among his many credits has had experience staging live Cirque du Soleil spectaculars.  His quest was to use modern technology to bring to the stage visuals powerful enough to match the epic magnificence of Wagner’s music.

Included in the cast are opera stars such as Bryn Terfel singing the role of Wotan and Deborah Voigt as the valkyrie Brunhilde.

Below you can hear our feature on the Met’s new Ring Cycle production.

Wagner's Dream

09/10/2012 at 8:30 pm on witf TV

A documentary giving a behind-the-scenes look at the ambitious attempt to stage opera's most monumental work.