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Opera Australia’s Der Ring des Nibelungen in Brisbane
The Wagner Society in Queensland – a member of the Wagner Syndicate
The Wagner Society in Queensland is a Patron of Opera Australia by virtue of being a ‘Wagner Artisan Donor’ of the Wagner Syndicate. Consequently, members of our Society may now benefit from Opera Australia’s program of Brisbane Ring ancillary events which is being planned to complement the Ring Pre-Performance Talks and Ring Symposia at the Queensland Museum Theatre between 1st and 21st December (see below for program and booking details).
Click here to see eBook on the Ring Symposia and Talks at: Ring eBook for 2023 Symposia and Talks
Dates and times
Cycle 1. Das Rheingold 1 December 2023, 7pm; Die Walküre 3 December 2023, 1pm; Siegfried 5 December 2023, 5pm; Götterdämmerung 7 December 2023, 4pm.
Cycle 2. Das Rheingold 8 December 2023, 7pm; Die Walküre 10 December 2023, 5pm; Siegfried 12 December 2023, 5pm; Götterdämmerung 14 December 2023, 4pm.
Cycle 3. Das Rheingold 15 December 2023, 7pm; Die Walküre 17 December 2023, 5pm; Siegfried 19 December 2023, 5pm; Götterdämmerung 21 December 2023, 1pm.
For further details and Ring booking arrangements see: www.opera.org.au/brisbane/ring-cycle/
Production Team
Conductor Philippe Auguin; Director & Production Designer Chen Shi-Zheng; Associate Set Designer Maruti Evans; Digital Content Designer Leigh Sachwitz, flora&faunavisions; Costume Designer Anita Yavich; Lighting Designer John Rayment; Choreographer Akasia Ruth Inchaustegui; For other design team members, see Opera Australia website.
Cast Das Rheingold
GODS Wotan Daniel Sumegi; Donner Alexander Sefton; Froh Dean Bassett; Loge Hubert Francis; GODDESSES Fricka Deborah Humble; Freia Mariana Hong; Erda Liane Keegan; NIBELUNGS Alberich Warwick Fyfe; Mime Andreas Conrad; Nibelungs Opera Australia Chorus; GIANTS Fasolt David Parkin; Fafner Andrea Silvestrelli; RHINEMAIDENS Woglinde Lorina Gore; Wellgunde Jane Ede; Flosshilde Dominica Matthews
Cast Die Walküre
Siegmund Rosario La Spina; Sieglinde Anna-Louise Cole (Cycles 1-2) Olivia Cranwell (Cycle 3); Hunding Andrea Silvestrelli; Wotan Daniel Sumegi; Fricka Deborah Humble; Brünnhilde Lise Lindstrom (Cycles 1-2) Anna-Louise Cole (Cycle 3); VALKYRIES Gerhilde Jane Ede; Ortlinde Jennifer Black; Waltraute Deborah Humble; Schwertleite Dominica Matthews; Helmwige Mariana Hong; Siegrune Agnes Sarkis; Grimgerde Angela Hogan; Rossweisse Ruth Strutt.
Cast Siegfried
Siegfried Stefan Vinke; Mime Andreas Conrad; Wanderer Daniel Sumegi; Alberich Warwick Fyfe; Fafner Andrea Silvestrelli; Erda Liane Keegan; Brünnhilde Lise Lindstrom (Cycles 1-2) Anna-Louise Cole (Cycle 3); Voice of a Woodbird Celeste Lazarenko
Cast Götterdämmerung
First Norn Celeste Haworth; Second Norn Angela Hogan; Third Norn Olivia Cranwell; Brünnhilde Lise Lindstrom (Cycles 1-2) Anna-Louise Cole (Cycle 3); Siegfried Stefan Vinke; Gunther Luke Gabbedy; Hagen Andrea Silvestrelli; Gutrune Maija Kovalevska; Waltraute Deborah Humble; Alberich Warwick Fyfe; Woglinde Lorina Gore; Wellgunde Jane Ede; Flosshilde Dominica Matthews; Gibichung Vassals and Women Opera Australia Chorus
Pre-Performance Talks and Symposia during the Ring

Each Pre-Performance Talk will last about 75 minutes and will relate to the particular drama being performed that day. In the past, audience members have found that these talks have greatly enhanced their Ring experience. The Museum Theatre is next to cafes and restaurants, and the Queensland Art Gallery, where friends and contacts can meet for lunch. The neighbouring riverbank parklands provide a delightful place to stroll and relax before the performances. The three Ring Symposia, each on a Saturday morning, will have distinct programs involving Wagner scholars and members of the production team (conductor, director, designers, singers and orchestral musicians). You are invited to register straight away. Invoices and tickets will be sent to you. Charges for the Pre-Performance talks are $80 per cycle of four talks or $25 per individual talk. For the Symposia, charges are $40 for a single symposium or $30 per symposium for two or more symposia or for groups of 10 or more.

Pre-Performance Talks by Peter Bassett
CYCLE 1
Friday 1 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Das Rheingold
Sunday 3 December 2023. 10:00am – 11:30 am Die Walküre
Tuesday 5 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Siegfried
Thursday 7 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Götterdämmerung
CYCLE 2 WAITLIST
Friday 8 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Das Rheingold
Sunday 10 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Die Walküre
Tuesday 12 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Siegfried
Thursday 14 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Götterdämmerung
CYCLE 3
Friday 15 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Das Rheingold
Sunday 17 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Die Walküre
Tuesday 19 December 2023. 10:30am – 12 noon Siegfried
Thursday 21 December 2023. 10:00am – 11:30am Götterdämmerung
Symposia
Symposium 1. Saturday 2 December 2023. 10:00am – 12:30pm WAITLIST
10:00 – 10:45 A Ring without Boundaries. Dr Peter Bassett.
10:45 – 11:30 Conducting the Ring. Conductor Philippe Auguin in conversation with Professor Stephen Emmerson.
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:30 Images and Ideas. Director & Production Designer Chen Shi-Zheng and Costume Designer Anita Yavich in conversation with Professor Colin Mackerras AO.
Symposium 2. Saturday 9 December 2023. 10:00am – 12:30pm WAITLIST
10:00 – 10:45 Richard Wagner and the Eternal Feminine. Peter Bassett.
10:45 – 11:30 Wagner in China. Colin Mackerras.
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:30 Erda’s role in the Ring. Liane Keegan (Erda) in conversation with Peter Bassett.
Symposium 3. Saturday 16 December 2023. 10:00am – 12:30pm
10:00 – 10:45 Blood Brothers in Götterdämmerung. Luke Gabbedy (Gunther) on Siegfried’s Blood Brother, in conversation with Peter Bassett.
10:45 – 11:30 The Orchestral Perspective. Members of the Ring Orchestra Warwick Adeney (violin) and Ysolt Clark (first Wagner tuba) in conversation with Stephen Emmerson.
11:30 – 11:45 Break
11:45 – 12:30 The Ring’s Western Myths and Eastern Beliefs. Peter Bassett.
PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS AND SYMPOSIA. For booking details contact Peter Bassett at pgbassett@outlook.com or visit: www.peterbassett.com.au.
INTERVIEW WITH THE RING CONDUCTOR PHILIPPE AUGUIN – see:
wno-music-director-philippe-auguin-on-the-ring
CONDITIONS: By attending any of the Ring Pre-Performance Talks or Ring Symposia, you accept all risks associated with the event, including risks of exposure to COVID-19. You must not attend these events if you feel unwell, have symptoms of COVID-19, have or are suspected of having COVID-19 or are required to self-isolate or stay-at-home for any reason. You accept that the programs for Ring Symposia or Ring Pre-Performance Talks may be changed or cancelled for reasons related to COVID-19 or for another reason, including the unavailability of advertised speakers or other participants. In the event of a cancellation by the organisers or by you, in lieu of a refund of ticket charges you will be offered four Wagner eBooks per ticket at no cost. Except as required by law, we are not responsible for any expenses you incur or may incur, in relation to an event cancellation.