Neil Armfield's RING CYCLE Returns to Opera Austraila

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.

"Armfield is a wonderful story-teller and this was a Ring that brought the characters down to earth in a way that I've not seen before... The verdict was pretty much unanimous: this was one of the best Rings anywhere in a long time." Classical Voice North America, 2013

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.

Tickets available for individual operas as well as full cycles.

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.

Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen made a huge impact in Melbourne with his first complete Ring Cycle in 2013. Since then, he has been conducting opera productions at Finnish National Opera, Belgium's La Monnaie, Berlin's Staatsoper Unter den Linden and Munich's Bayerische Staatsoper. Inkinen is currently Chief Conductor of both Ludwigsburg Festival Orchestra and Prague Symphony Orchestra, as well as Honorary Conductor of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Neil Armfield is one of Australia's leading and most celebrated directors, working across opera, theatre, musicals, film and television. Highlights of OA productions include Bliss, Billy Budd, The Eighth Wonder and Peter Grimes. International engagements include Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, Zurich Opera, Lyric Opera Chicago, Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Royal Opera Covent Garden. Awards include Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award; Sydney Theatre Critics' Circle Award; Australian Artists Creative Fellowship; Barclay's Award (London); Dora Mavor Award (Canada); Green Room Awards AFI Awards and nine Helpmann Awards.

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. For more information please visit opera.org.au.