WAGNER’S

R I N G CYC L E

(Daily Telegraph)

(The Times)

Tuesday 28 June – Sunday 3 July 2016

‘One of the most enthralling Wagner performances of recent years’(The Guardian)

#ringcycle

Opera North performs the four operas that together tell the story of Wagner’s epic music drama: The Ring. Wagner creates a seductive world populated by gods, giants, dwarves and heroes caught between the conflicting claims of love and power.Wagner tells the stories of these characters with music of unmatched vividness, music which gives us clues about their motives, their back stories and their destiny, music which always tells us the truth even when the characters don’t.   Ideal for anyone new to The Ring, this five-star production, which unfolded over four years between 2011 and 2014, reveals the full scale and splendour of Wagner’s magnificent conception in dramatic performances for the concert hall. Film projections on LED screens enhance the storytelling, providing an immersive, illuminating experience for Wagner addicts and newcomers alike.Gillian Moore MBE Head of Classical Music, Southbank Centre

Das RheingoldTuesday 28 June 2016, 7pm

Please note start time

Yvonne Howard Fricka Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke Loge Michael Druiett Wotan Jo Pohlheim AlberichGiselle Allen Freia Ceri Williams Erda Jeni Bern Woglinde Madeleine Shaw Wellgunde Sarah Castle Flosshilde To be announced Froh Andrew Foster-Williams Donner Richard Roberts Mime James Creswell Fasolt Mats Almgren Fafner Richard Farnes conductorPeter Mumford concert staging, design concept, lighting & production designerOrchestra of Opera North

‘One of the most enthralling Wagner performances of recent years’ (The Guardian) comes to Royal Festival Hall.

Our journey begins with the first of the four operas that make up the epic drama The Ring, Das Rheingold (The Rhine Gold).

Performed in four scenes without a break, it follows a cursed magic ring that gives its bearer the power to rule the world... but only if they first renounce love. We meet Wotan, ruler of the gods, and his wife Fricka; Alberich, the evil dwarf who wants the ring at all costs; the forceful giants who capture Wotan’s sister-in-law and a magic helmet that makes the wearer change size and shape.

Running time 2 hours 40 minutes. No interval.

Royal Festival Hall , 7pm Premium seats £75* £60*, £45*, £35*, £25* Transaction fees may apply*

‘I am breathless with admiration for Opera North’(Daily Telegraph)

Performed in German with English Surtitles

Experience the full Ring Cycle from just £90* Book our special subscription package. See back page for details.

tickets 0844 847 9910 southbankcentre.co.uk/ringcycle

Die WalküreWednesday 29 June 2016, 5pm

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Alwyn Mellor Sieglinde Kelly Cae Hogan Brünnhilde To be announced Siegmund Béla Perencz Wotan Yvonne Howard Fricka James Creswell Hunding Giselle Allen, Sarah Castle, Fiona Kimm, Madeleine Shaw, Heather Shipp, Ceri Williams ValkyriesRichard Farnes conductorPeter Mumford concert staging, design concept, lighting & production designerOrchestra of Opera North

The story continues with Die Walküre (The Valkyrie).

This opera contains some of Wagner’s most famous, vivid and heartbreakingly beautiful music – including the rousing Ride of the Valkyries.

Wotan, king of the gods, strives to undo the curse of the ring. How? By fathering a pure-of-heart hero by a mortal woman. But he finds himself conflicted as events spin out of control and his offspring defy his will.

‘A wonder! A wonder!’ (Franz Liszt)

Running time 5 hours 20 minutes including two intervals.

Act 1 lasts 1 hour 10 minutes, followed by an interval of 20 minutes. Act 2 lasts 1 hour 35 minutes, followed by an interval of 1 hour. Act 3 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes.

Royal Festival Hall, 5pm Premium seats £75* £60*, £45*, £35*, £25* Transaction fees may apply*

*Transaction fees may apply: £1.75 online, £2.75 over the phone. No transaction fee for bookings made in person or for Southbank Centre Members and Supporters Circles.

‘The chief medium of this alchemy was the conductor Richard Farnes’(The Daily Telegraph)

*Transaction fees may apply: £1.75 online, £2.75 over the phone. No transaction fee for bookings made in person or for Southbank Centre Members and Supporters Circles.

SiegfriedFriday 1 July 2016 , 5pm

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Kelly Cae Hogan Brünnhilde To be announced SiegfriedRichard Roberts Mime Béla Perencz The Wanderer To be announced AlberichMats Almgren Fafner Jeni Bern Voice of the Forest Bird Ceri Williams Erda Richard Farnes conductorPeter Mumford concert staging, design concept, lighting & production designerOrchestra of Opera North

The third instalment of Wagner’s epic Ring cycle. Our fairytale reaches new heights of heroism and passion – and Wagner’s magical score rises to the challenge to create unparalleled orchestral story telling.

The daring hero Siegfried, the mortal grandson of Wotan, king of the gods, seeks ever more dangerous adventures. He slays a dragon, confronts the gods and braves the fire surrounding the sleeping maiden, Brünnhilde.

But this act awakens his passion. Overwhelmed by her beauty, Siegfried engages Brünnhilde in a love duet that blazes with erotic intensity.

Running time 5 hours 15 minutes including two intervals.

Act 1 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes, followed by an interval of 20 minutes. Act 2 lasts 1 hour and 10 minutes, followed by an interval of 1 hour. Act 3 lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Royal Festival Hall, 5pm Premium seats £75* £60*, £45*, £35*, £25* Transaction fees may apply*

GötterdämmerungSunday 3 July 2016, 3pm

Please note start time

Alwyn Mellor Brünnhilde To be announced SiegfriedMats Almgren Hagen Giselle Allen Gutrune Andrew Foster-Williams Gunther Jo Polheim AlberichHeather Shipp Waltraute Fiona Kimm First Norn Yvonne Howard Second Norn Lee Bisset Third NornJeni Bern Woglinde Madeleine Shaw Wellgunde Sarah Castle FlosshildeRichard Farnes conductorPeter Mumford concert staging, design concept, lighting & production designerOrchestra and Chorus of Opera North

Wagner’s monumental musical drama reaches its overwhelming conclusion with Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods).

Siegfried, our hero and the mortal grandson of Wotan, king of the gods, falls amongst enemies. The cursed ring causes more problems, true love is betrayed and the gods themselves confront the end of the world, depicted with blazing, intense, all-encompassing music.

Running time 6 hours including two intervals.

Act 1 lasts 2 hours, followed by an interval of 1 hour. Act 2 lasts 1 hour 10 minutes, followed by an interval of 20 minutes. Act 3 lasts 1 hour 20 minutes.

Royal Festival Hall , 3pm Premium seats £75* £60*, £45*, £35*, £25* Transaction fees may apply*

‘a tremendous achievement’(Daily Telegraph)

How to bookSUBSCRIPTIONGet 10% off the lowest ticket price and experience Wagner’s complete Ring cycle for just £90*

Ticket prices for the full cycle: Premium seats £300 £240, £180, £140, £90*

Individual performances:Premium seats £75*£60, £45, £35, £25*

To book tickets or for the full Ring cycle subscription visit: southbankcentre.co.uk/ringcycle*or call 0844 847 9910* 9am – 8pm (daily)

Royal Festival Hall Ticket Office 10am – 8pm (daily)

* Transaction fees apply: £1.75 online, £2.75 over the phone. No transaction fees for Southbank Centre Members and Supporters Circles.

GROUP DISCOUNTS20% discount for groups of ten or more.Call 0844 875 0070(Not available on Premium Seats)

CONCESSIONSA limited allocation of half-price tickets is available for recipients of Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, those aged 16 and under and full-time students. Appropriate cards to be shown and discounts cannot be combined.

Visitor InformationACCESS

Southbank Centre is accessible to people with disabilities. For more information, visit southbankcentre.co.uk/access, call us on 0844 847 9910 or fax 020 7921 0607

TRANSPORT Waterloo and Embankment

Southbank Centre Car Parks: – Belvedere Road (7am – 1am)– Hayward Gallery (7am – 1am)

shop, eat and drinkWe have an extensive range of restaurants, cafes and shops here at Southbank Centre. Please see our website for full details southbankcentre.co.uk/shop-eat-drink

EXPERIENCE MORE WITH MEMBERSHIPGet priority booking on all concerts, series and festivals at Southbank Centre. Enjoy relaxing in your own Members’ bar with stunning views. Get discounts across the Centre, plus much more.

For more information, visit southbankcentre.co.uk/membership or call 0844 875 0071.

GET CLOSER WITH SUPPORTERS CIRCLES Enjoy rehearsals, receptions, private performances plus opportunities to meet musicians , privileged booking and help with tickets for sold-out concerts.

Contact 020 7921 0937 orsupportus@southbankcentre.co.uk

‘Beg, borrow, or be like Wotan and steal a ticket for this show’(The Times)

Images © Opera North