The journey has begun towards a new production of Wagner’s Ring at Longborough: starting in 2019 and culminating in the full cycle in 2023.
Longborough has long been celebrated for its performances of Richard Wagner’s work. In Wagner’s bicentenary year of 2013 we were the only UK company to host a fully-staged cycle, described by The Times as “one of the summer’s most remarkable cultural achievements”.
All productions in the new Ring will be created especially for Longborough. Royal Opera House Head Staff Director Amy Lane, who recently revived Kasper Holten’s Don Giovanni and Jonathan Kent’s Tosca for The Royal Opera, will direct the entire cycle: “The Ring cycle is the most epic of tales with a score that is searing, desperate, sublime and so perfectly unfathomable. What an honour it is to set foot upon this glorious pathway and to commence this journey with Longborough”.
Our Music Director and eminent Wagnerian Anthony Negus will conduct. Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) is a work of extraordinary scale, with characters based on Norse and Germanic myth. Its story of giants, dragons, gods and heroes is often described as the pinnacle of the art form.
Planned schedule of performances:
June 2019: Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold)
June 2020: Die Walküre (The Valkyrie)
June 2021: Siegfried
June 2022: Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)
June 2023: the full cycle of Der Ring des Nibelungen
Support us and be part of our new Ring
Wagner’s epic cycle is one of the most challenging works to bring to the stage. This monumental work of art requires huge resources, and without any corporate or government funding we seek your support in making this ambitious cycle a reality.
Being part of our new Ring cycle will bring you closer to the productions, with Memberships offering priority booking and insights behind the scenes. Join our extended family, share your love of Longborough with other like-minded Wagnerians and opera lovers, and find out how you can support our plans by contacting Membership & Development Manager Gill Powell on gill@lfo.org.uk or on 01451 830292.
Ring Cycle Auditions
In partnership with Wagner specialists The Mastersingers we will be holding auditions for our Ring cycle. Auditions will be held in London in early spring 2018, with a distinguished panel* to include: Sir John Tomlinson, Dame Anne Evans, Longborough’s Music Director Anthony Negus, Longborough’s Head of Casting for the Ring cycle Malcolm Rivers, Longborough’s Artistic Advisor for the Ring cycle Isabel Murphy and Mastersingers Production Director David Edwards. Applications close 15 January 2018. To apply, complete the online application form at lfo.org.uk/ring
