2016 Melbourne Ring Cycle Announces Subsidised Tickets, Talks, Tours & More

Opera Australia's largest and most ambitious production returns to Melbourne in 2016. Directed by Neil Armfield, Wagner's Ring Cycle will play at Arts Centre Melbourne from 21 November to 16 December 2016. Melbourne Ring Cycle 2016 comprises four operas - Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung - totalling around 16 hours of music. As in 2013, the cycle of four operas will be performed three times.

Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen will return to conduct the specially formed Melbourne Ring Orchestra.

Often seen as a project that makes or breaks a company, Armfield's Ring Cycle was a defining moment for Opera Australia in 2013, and was claimed a triumph by audiences and critics. From the moment the curtain rose on the gently writhing bodies clad in swimmers, this was unmistakably an Australian production.

Opera Australia's Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini said, "Once again we are setting out to climb that "Everest" of opera. It will doubtless be challenging, exhausting, stimulating and above all, richly rewarding. The Ring embraces you musically, emotionally and dramatically and it leaves an indelible imprint on your soul.

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome back Pietari Inkinen to conduct this mammoth work and after his tremendous success in 2013, we are all anticipating another exceptional and illuminating experience.

"We hope that you will join us for The Melbourne Ring Cycle and be inspired by the sheer genius of Richard Wagner in what is truly one of the greatest achievements of western culture." Mr Terracini said.

The Melbourne Ring Cycle features a stellar line-up of international and Australian singers, including many returning home specifically for the production. InterNational Singers include American soprano Lise Lindstrom (Turandot, 2015), singing her first full Ring Cycle as Brünnhilde; American baritone James Johnson in the pivotal double role of Wotan/The Wanderer; and German tenor Stefan Vinke returning with his phenomenal performance of Siegfried.

Australia's finest include Bradley Daley making his role debut as Siegmund; alongside the return of Daniel Sumegi as Fasolt/Hagen, Jacqueline Dark as Fricka, and Warwick Fyfe as Alberich.

Opera Australia is able to stage the Melbourne Ring Cycle 2016 due to the very generous support of Maureen Wheeler who said, "Opera Australia and Neil Armfield's production of the Ring in Melbourne was one of my life's highlights. In all my travels and experiences, this is the best that opera has to offer all around the world.

"To see this again constitutes an almost embarrassment of riches. To those who saw this Ring in 2013, welcome back, I am sure we will discover many moments that we missed last time and much more to contemplate and enjoy. To those coming to this production for the first time, you are in for such a treat. Visually and narratively this ranks as one of the great Rings, with the singers and musicians amongst the best in the world."

Armfield's interpretation brings out the human themes of the complex opera work, bringing The Ring Cycle into the 21st century. The production draws out the familiar themes and storylines of family relationships, love, loss, struggles for power and self-determination. Around these passionate and flawed characters, fire burns, Rhinemaidens seduce, dwarves and gods change shape and the overwhelming yearning for the ring drives the world to ultimate destruction. Ablaze with Wagner's magnificent music, the Ring Cycle is a realm of desire that still rings true today.

The Ring Cycle is comprised of four operas performed in a cycle. Tickets are available both for individual operas as well as a complete cycle.

Wagner's Ring Cycle inspires incredible devotion from its fans, many of whom travel the world to see it over and over again. Opera Australia is incredibly excited to announce that a particularly enthusiastic anonymous donor has subsidised a limited number of tickets for the upcoming Melbourne Ring Cycle. Our new favourite donor is keen for everyone to experience this incredible masterpiece, creating a fantastic opportunity for those who want to see what the fuss is all about.

Newbies to The Ring don't need to worry about committing to the whole 16 hours. Single tickets are available to the four individual operas. Seasoned Ring-goers, affectionately known as Ring Nuts, will know that this is a opportunity not to be missed.

The Ring Cycle is a special event in the opera world, and Opera Australia is keen to share it with as many new audiences as possible. Tickets for each opera would normally be $299, and have been discounted to $149, thanks to the generous subsidy from Opera Australia's anonymous donor. Tickets are limited. Book at www.opera.org.au using the Promotion Code RingSubsidy.

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IF YOU GO:

Runs 21 November to 16 December 2016 Performed in German with English surtitles at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne. Tickets can be bought for individual operas, as well as complete cycles, at Opera Australia Box Office: (03) 9685 3700 | www.opera.org.au.

Creatives
Conductor Pietari Inkinen
Director Neil Armfield
Set Designer Robert Cousins
Costume Designer Alice Babidge
Lighting Designer Damien Cooper
Sound Designer Jim Atkins
Associate Conductor Anthony Legge
Associate Directors Kate Champion, Roger Press

Cast

With Melbourne Ring Orchestra and
Opera Australia Chorus

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To celebrate Opera Australia's Melbourne Ring Cycle 2016, don't miss this wide range of free and ticketed events, talks and concerts.

RECITALS & CONCERTS

WAGNER, HIS CONTEMPORARIES AND FOLLOWERS

18 November at 6pm: The Salon, Melbourne Recital Centre

Pianist Alex Raineri and Wagner scholar Peter Bassett present a program that explores the world of Wagner through his letters and music, tracing connections with his contemporaries and followers, including Mendelssohn, Liszt, Berg and Scriabin.

http://www.melbournerecital.com.au

MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - PARSIFAL EXCERPTS

Thursday 1 December & Saturday 3 December at 8pm: Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne

An exceptional night with Simone Young conducting Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, mezzo-soprano Michelle de Young and tenor Stuart Skelton in excerpts from Wagner's Parsifal and Bruckner Symphony No.9.

http://www.mso.com.au

MAZDA OPERA IN THE BOWL

Saturday 3 December 7.30pm: Sidney Myer Music Bowl FREE EVENT

One of Melbourne's favourite free events, Mazda Opera in the Bowl is opera's most loved arias performed by some of Opera Australia's stellar singers, alongside Orchestra Victoria and the Opera Australia Chorus - a perfect night under the stars.

https://opera.org.au

TALKS

EXPLORING THE RING WITH HEATH LEES

Pre-performance from 21 November - 16 December at Melbourne Recital Centre

Back by popular demand! The Richard Wagner Society Inc. presents Professor Heath Lees with an informative and entertaining background to each of the Ring Operas.

http://www.melbournerecital.com.au

ALL DAY SYMPOSIUM: A DAY WITH THE RING

Thurs 24 November, Sat 3 December & Tues 13 December at 9.30am-4.30pm: State Library of Victoria

Immerse yourself in the Ring Cycle with a day of talks by Peter Bassett, Christopher Lawrence, Anthony Hunt and Christopher Menz.

http://renaissancetours.com.au

WHEELER CENTRE TALKS: RING TRUE: MUSIC, IDENTITY AND OBSESSION

Saturday 17 December at 2.30pm-3.30pm: The Wheeler Centre FREE ENTRY - BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

It took 25 years for Richard Wagner to write Der Ring des Nibelungen; presumably he was hoping people would like it. But did he anticipate that his masterpiece would be an enduring source of obsession for people in the 21st Century? For this conversation, the Wheeler Centre is bringing celebrated American radio producer (WNYC's Radiolab) and Ring Cycle devotee Jad Abumrad together with one of the world's foremost authorities on Wagner, Heath Lees. Hosted by Casey Bennetto.

http://www.wheelercentre.com/events/ring-true-music-identity-and-obsession

IN CONVERSATION

Sundays 27 November, 4 December & 11 December at 10am: State Theatre, Melbourne Arts Centre BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Join Opera Australia's Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini in conversation with a selection of Ring Cycle Principal Artists, as they reflect on their personal experiences of preparing for and performing in this momentous productions. Each session will go for an hour, followed by morning tea in the State Theatre foyer.

Sunday 27 November: James Johnson (Wotan) & Amber Wagner (Siglinde)
Sunday 4 December: Lise Lindstrom (Brünnhilde) & Luke Gabbedy Gunther)
Sunday 11 December: Warwick Fyfe (Alberich) & Stefan Vinke (Siegfried)

https://opera.org.au

EVENTS FOR CHILDREN

BRUNHILDE SAVES THE WORLD

3, 4 & 5 December at 2:30pm & 4:30pm: The Opera Centre, Melbourne

Brünnhilde Saves the World is a show for children, adapted from Richard Wagner's mythological Ring Cycle of music-dramas. The story is told through animation and live performance, from the dwarf's theft of the gold, to Brünnhilde saving the world - in just 50 minutes.This award-winning show is an ideal entry point for children to experience great music, live singing, a centuries-old art-form presented in an accessible, contemporary form.

Rated PG (contains mythological images such as slaying a monster).

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/brunnhilde-saves-the-world-tickets-27649559577?aff=MTOoperaaustralia

EL KID

22-27 November at Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne

He's just an unpopular kid - El Kid - but when the other goats find themselves in a tough spot, it's little Diego who charges in to save the day. This 50-minute opera explores the courage you find when you believe in yourself, using the popular tunes of Bizet's Carmen, colourful costumes and clever sets to introduce the wonder, passion and drama of opera to primary-school aged students.

www.artscentremelbourne.com.au

TOURS

TARRAWARRA AND DAME NELLIE MELBA IN THE YARRA VALLEY

Tuesday 22 November, Thursday 1 December and Thursday 15 December at 8.30am-5.30pm

A perfect day outing in the Yarra Valley: visit Tarrawarra Museum of Art, displaying Australian art from the second half of the 20th century to the present day; enjoy lunch at Coombe - The Melba Estate, once the home of Dame Nellie Melba; and delight in a tour of seven acres of stunning gardens and gallery, to get a glimpse of the lifestyle of the world's first diva.

http://renaissancetours.com.au

GARDENS, ART AND WINE ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Saturday 26 November, Sunday 4 December and Saturday 10 December at 8.30am-5.30pm

Devote a day to the Mornington Peninsula. Visit and tour Cruden Farm, Dame Elizabeth Murdoch's famed garden legacy. Enjoy lunch at Crittenden Estate, a modern vineyard restaurant nestled at the foot of Red Hill. Continue to McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park, set on sixteen hectares of bush and landscaped gardens, displaying over 100 permanent sculptures.

http://renaissancetours.com.au

HISTORY, BLOOMS AND WINE ON THE BELLARINE PENINSULA

Sunday 27 November, Tuesday 6 December and Sunday 11 December at 8.30am-5.30pm

Discover the delights of the Bellarine Peninsula. Visit Werribee Mansion, a living postcard of 19th century Australia. Delight in the mass of spring colour and perfume at the Victoria State Rose Garden, home to over 5000 roses. Continue to Bellarine and the Jack Rabbit vineyard for lunch and tastings.

http://renaissancetours.com.au

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE BACKSTAGE TOURS

Every Sunday at 11am: Arts Centre Melbourne

See the secrets of the theatre revealed in this guided tour through backstage rooms, hidden passageways and technical contraptions that are unknown to most visitors. Trace the footsteps of famous performers, directors and choreographers and hear stories from behind-the scenes of major stage productions.

https://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/2016/tour/backstage-tour

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