Completed in 1874, Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen consists of four operas: Das Reingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. Wagner had originally intended for the operas to be performed together as a series, however, each opera can be performed separately.
The monumental Ring cycle revolves around an almighty magical ring and the mythical gods who desire it.
“As you know, Wagner’s operas are of the utmost importance to the operatic repertoire, but operas rarely get a chance to be performed in their entirety in the orchestral world,” said Kim Noltemy, the orchestra’s Ross Perot President & CEO, at an event announcing the project.
The orchestra’s Louise W. & Edmund J. Kahn Music Director Fabio Luisi won his first Grammy Award for conducting the last two operas of the Ring cycle for The Metropolitan Opera and he also led three complete Ring cycles in Dresden from 2006-2008.
“I think it is a historical moment for the DSO and for the musical world in the United States," said Luisi. "What we are doing is putting the orchestra in the center of this project. I am so happy that I can introduce as a conductor the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to the Ring cycle in its entirety.
"I know and I feel how important this work is for the musical and personal development of a musician," he added. "This work has played a huge role in my personal development as a conductor, as a musician and I think I should share this experience with my musicians in the orchestra."
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will perform the complete Ring Cycle in order across a single week of concerts in October 2024.
The schedule is as follows:
- Das Rheingold
Sunday, October 13, 2024
View Cast - Die Walküre
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
View Cast - Siegfried
Thursday, October 17, 2024
View Cast - Götterdämmerung
Sunday, October 20, 2024
View Cast
Then in May 2024, each opera-in-concert will also be presented individually on the following dates.
- Das Rheingold
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Saturday, May 4, 2024 - Die Walküre
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Sunday, May 5, 2024 - Siegfried
Saturday, October 5, 2024 - Götterdämmerung
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
The DSO’s performances of Wagner’s complete Ring cycle will be recorded as part of the DSO’s Next Stage Digital Concert Series and will be made available in January 2025 here.
