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Tickets for the individual operas are now on sale.
Choose a single opera (below) or select your own variable package across the 12 performances. Discounts are also available when you book two or more performances in the same transaction.
If you require any assistance please call the QTIX team on 136 246 during Box Office hours.
Overview
Opera Australia brings a new production of the Ring Cycle to Brisbane in December 2023, exclusive to the Lyric Theatre.Come on an exhilarating adventure with men and maidens, gods and giants, dragons and dwarves. As greed and violence threaten to destroy the heavens and earth, a glimmer of hope rises from an unexpected source.
This is Wagner’s Ring Cycle – the pinnacle of opera – a 15-hour epic, over four performances.Brought to life by visionary Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng, who explores Wagner’s legendary tale through a futuristic lens.
French conductor Philippe Auguin leads a cast of international stars and some of Australia’s most accomplished performers.Enjoy a week in sunny Queensland and experience this striking new production featuring the memorable music of the Ring Cycle.
Performance and Interval Times
Pre-Performance Talks
The Operas
Das Rheingold
1 December, 7pm
8 December, 7pm
15 December, 7pm
The Ring Cycle opens with this magnificent prelude. The struggle for power and wealth in Das Rheingold irrevocably alters the order of the universe and determines the course of the entire saga.
Running time: approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, with no interval.
Please note: This production contains haze and smoke effects, laser, UV and strobe like lighting effects.
Die Walküre
3 December, 1pm
10 December, 5pm
17 December, 5pm
The second opera has dramatic power and remarkable music, including the famous ‘Ride of the Valkyries’. In Die Walküre Wagner plunges headlong into the highly emotional world of humanity.
Running time: approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes, including two intervals.
Interval 1: 75 minutes
Interval 2: 40 minutes.
Please note: This production contains haze and smoke effects, laser, UV and strobe-like lighting effects, live gas flame on stage and depictions of domestic violence.
Siegfried
5 December, 5pm
12 December, 5pm
19 December, 5pm
The Ring Cycle’s third part is intensely focused on the fortunes of a single figure. Siegfried charts the rise of the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde into the greatest hero of the age.
Running time: approximately 5 hours and 50 minutes, including two intervals.
Interval 1: 75 minutes
Interval 2: 35 minutes
This production contains haze and smoke effects, and strobe like lighting effects.
Götterdämmerung
7 December, 4pm
14 December, 4pm
21 December, 1pm
The Ring Cycle reaches its devastating finale in Götterdämmerung’s tale of treachery and destruction. All seems lost after naked ambition betrays love, and villains outsmart heroes.
Running time: approximately 6 hours and 40 minutes, including two intervals.
7 and 14 December performances:
Interval 1: 90 minutes
Interval 2: 35 minutes
21 December performance:
Interval 1: 35 minutes
Interval 2: 90 minutes
Please note: This production contains haze and smoke effects and live flame.
Variable Package
Build your own variable package and choose the operas and nights you wish to attend. Each of the four operas in the Ring Cycle will be performed three times from 1–21 December.
Tickets to the individual Ring operas (single tickets) start at $165* and bookings of two or more performances qualify buyers for a discounted rate.
Pre-Performance Talks
Hosted by Performers, Academics and Artists, each session will run for approximately 30 minutes at the Lyric Balcony Foyer at Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Each talk will offer insights in to the Ring Cycle whilst also considering perspectives from performers, conductors and choreographers. The pre-performance talks are free, seating will be on a first come, first served basis.
Speakers
Tahu Matheson
Tahu is Head of Music at Opera Australia, a conductor and pianist and holds a Master of Music from Queensland Conservatorium. He has performed and recorded throughout Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Professor Warren Bebbington AM
Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Professor Bebbington was Director of the University of Melbourne Conservatorium for 17 years and before that Head of Music, University of Queensland.
Tim Munro
Tim is Associate Professor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, flautist, writer and broadcaster.
Thomas Allely
Thomas is the Principal Tuba of Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and also teaches at the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University.
WITH GUESTS
Sarah Sweeting
Award winning mezzo-soprano Sarah Sweeting will perform as Fricka in the 2023 Ring Cycle.
Akasia Ruth Inchaustegui
Born and raised in Peru, Ruthy danced at every chance she would get, making her imagination a world of endless limitation.
David Parkin
Award winning bass David Parkin has performed many roles with Opera Australia, he will play Fasolt in the 2023 Ring Cycle.
Philippe Auguin
Philippe Auguin is one of the most sought after conductors of his generation, highly successful both in the operatic and symphonic field.
Schedule
CYCLE 1
Das Rheingold
- Fri 1 Dec, 6:15pm
- Speaker: Tahu Matheson, Rheingold: Drama and Force
Die Walküre
- Sun 3 Dec, 12:15pm
- Speaker: Tim Munro, in conversation with Conductor Philippe Auguin
Siegfried
- Tue 5 Dec, 4:15pm
- Speaker: Tim Munro, in conversation with Choreographer Akasia Ruthy Inchaustegui
Götterdämmerung
- Thu 7 Dec, 3:15pm
- Speaker: Thomas Allely, Talk on Götterdämmerung
CYCLE 2
Das Rheingold
- Fri 8 Dec, 6:15pm
- Speaker: Professor Warren Bebbington AM, Understanding the Brisbane Chen production
Die Walküre
- Sun 10 Dec, 4:15pm
- Speaker: Tim Munro, in conversation with Mezzo Soprano Sarah Sweeting
Siegfried
- Tue 12 Dec, 4:15pm
- Speaker: Professor Warren Bebbington AM, Approaching the Ring’s least known night
Götterdämmerung
- Thu 14 Dec, 3:15pm
- Speaker: Thomas Allely, Talk on Götterdämmerung
CYCLE 3
Das Rheingold
- Fri 15 Dec, 6:15pm
- Speaker: Tahu Matheson, Rheingold: Drama and Force
Die Walküre
- Sun 17 Dec, 4:15pm
- Speaker: Tim Munro, in conversation with David Parkin
Siegfried
- Tue 19 Dec, 4:15pm
- Speaker: Tim Munro, in conversation with Conductor Philippe Auguin
Götterdämmerung
- Thu 21 Dec, 12:15pm
- Speaker: Thomas Allely, Talk on Götterdämmerung
Creative Team
- Conductor Philippe Auguin
- Director & Production Designer Chen Shi-Zheng
- Associate Set Designer Maruti Evans
- Digital Content Designer Leigh Sachwitz, flora&faunavisions
- Digital Content Designer Associates Sebastian Grebing and Milena Mayer / flora&faunavisions
- Costume Designer Anita Yavich
- Lighting Designer Matthew Marshall
- Associate Lighting Designer Lucy Birkinshaw
- Choreographer Akasia Ruth Inchaustegui
- Assistant Directors Constantine Costi and Matthew Barclay
The Cast
Das Rheingold
Cast
- Wotan / Wanderer Daniel Sumegi
- Donner Alexander Sefton
- Froh Dean Bassett
- Loge Hubert Francis
- Fricka Deborah Humble
- Freia Mariana Hong
- Erda Liane Keegan
- Woglinde Lorina Gore
- Wellgunde Jane Ede
- Flosshilde Dominica Matthews
- Alberich Warwick Fyfe
- Mime Andreas Conrad
- Fasolt David Parkin
- Fafner Andrea Silvestrelli
- Opera Australia Chorus & Opera Queensland Chorus Queensland Symphony Ring Cycle Orchestra
Die Walküre
Cast
- Wotan Daniel Sumegi
- Fricka / Waltraute Deborah Humble
- Siegmund Rosario La Spina
- Sieglinde Anna-Louise Cole (Cycle 1-2) Olivia Cranwell (Cycle 3)
- Hunding Andrea Silvestrelli
- Brünnhilde Lise Lindstrom (Cycle 1-2) Anna-Louise Cole (Cycle 3)
- Gerhilde Jane Ede
- Ortlinde Jennifer Black
- Schwertleite Dominica Matthews
- Helmwige Mariana Hong
- Siegrune Agnes Sarkis
- Grimgerde Angela Hogan
- Rossweisse Ruth Strutt
- Opera Australia Chorus & Opera Queensland Chorus Queensland Symphony Ring Cycle Orchestra
Siegfried
Cast
- Siegfried Stefan Vinke
- Brünnhilde Lise Lindstrom (Cycle 1-2) Anna-Louise Cole (Cycle 3)
- Erda Liane Keegan
- Mime Andreas Conrad
- Wanderer Daniel Sumegi
- Alberich Warwick Fyfe
- Fafner Andrea Silvestrelli
- Woodbird Celeste Lazarenko
- Opera Australia Chorus & Opera Queensland Chorus Queensland Symphony Ring Cycle Orchestra
Götterdämmerung
Cast
- Siegfried Stefan Vinke
- Gunther Luke Gabbedy
- Alberich Warwick Fyfe
- Hagen Alexander Sefton
- Brünnhilde Lise Lindstrom (Cycle 1-2) Anna-Louise Cole (Cycle 3)
- Gutrune Maija Kovalevska
- Waltraute Deborah Humble
- Woglinde Lorina Gore
- Wellgunde Jane Ede
- Flosshilde Dominica Matthews
- 1st Norn Celeste Haworth
- 2nd Norn Angela Hogan
- 3rd Norn Olivia Cranwell
- Opera Australia Chorus & Opera Queensland Chorus Queensland Symphony Ring Cycle Orchestra
More
Dining
Queensland Performing Arts Centre will be offering a range of dining options. Details of the dining packages will be sent to ticket holders in 2023.
Aida
Opera Australia is bringing its radiant production of Aida, featuring cutting-edge digital sets, to Brisbane in December 2023.
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