Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Das Rheingold | 20160705 | Donald Macleod introduces Wagner's Das Rheingold from Sage Gateshead, the first instalment of a highly praised complete Ring cycle, given by Opera North. The performances are semi-staged, with the orchestra in clear vision with the singers, giving the production a special immediacy. Three huge screens showing a specially created visual accompaniment by designer Peter Mumford complement the staging. This is Richard Farnes' last set of appearances with Opera North as their music director. Sung in German Cast Wotan ..... Michael Druiett (bass baritone) Loge ..... Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke(bass) Fricka ..... Yvonne Howard (mezzo) Freia ..... Giselle Allen (soprano) Donner ..... Andrew Foster-Williams (baritone) Froh..... Mark Le Brocq (tenor) Fasolt ..... James Creswell (bass) Fafner ..... Mats Almgren (bass) Alberich ..... Jo Pohlheim (bass) Mime ..... Richard Roberts (tenor) Erda ..... Ceri Williams (mezzo) Woglinde ..... Jeni Bern (soprano) Wellgunde ..... Madeleine Shaw (mezzo) Flosshilde ..... Sarah Castle (mezzo) Orchestra of Opera North conducted by Richard Farnes. From Sage Gateshead, an Opera North performance of Wagner's Das Rheingold. |
| 02 | Die Walkure | 20160706 | Donald Macleod with Die Walküre, the second night of Opera North's imaginative concert performances of Wagner's Ring from Sage Gateshead. In Die Walküre love enters the scene as we meet Siegmund, who unwittingly falls in love with his sister Sieglinde. And we also meet Wotan's warrior daughters, the famous Valkyries, who are led by Wotan's favourite daughter, Brünnhilde. Sung in German Cast Sieglinde ..... Lee Bisset (soprano) Siegmund ..... Michael Weinius (tenor) Wotan ..... Robert Hayward (bass baritone) Fricka ..... Yvonne Howard (mezzo) Hunding ..... James Creswell (bass) The Valkyries: Brünnhilde ..... Kelly Cae Hogan (soprano) Rossweisse ..... Madeleine Shaw (mezzo) Ortlinde ..... Kate Valentine (soprano) Waltraute .....Heather Shipp (mezzo) Siegrune ..... Sarah Castle (mezzo) Gerhilde ..... Giselle Allen (soprano) Grimgerde ..... Fiona Kimm (mezzo) Helmwige ..... Katherine Broderick (soprano) Schwertleite ..... Claudia Huckle (contralto) Orchestra of Opera North conducted by Richard Farnes. From Sage Gateshead, an Opera North performance of Wagner's Die Walkure. |
| 03 | Siegfried | 20160708 | Donald Macleod introduces the hero Siegfried in Opera North's production of Wagner's Ring Cycle from Sage Gateshead in this third instalment of Wagner's epic saga, The Ring of the Nibelungs. Sung in German Cast Siegfried ..... Lars Cleveman (tenor) Brünnhilde ..... Kelly Cae Hogan (soprano) Mime ..... Richard Roberts (tenor) Wanderer ..... B退la Perencz (baritone) Alberich ..... Jo Pohlheim (bass baritone) Fafner ..... Mats Almgren (bass) Woodbird ..... Jeni Bern (soprano) Erda ..... Ceri Williams (mezzo) Orchestra of Opera North conducted by Richard Farnes. Donald Macleod introduces an Opera North performance of Wagner's Siegfried. |
| 04 | Gotterdammerung | 20160710 | Donald Macleod with the great climax to Wagner's Ring Cycle, G怀tterdammerung - The Twilight of the Gods, in Opera North's critically acclaimed production from Sage Gateshead. The hero Siegfried, ventures though the Rhineland to the home of the Gibichungs, there to confront his fate and the destiny of the gods. Sung in German Cast Brünnhilde .... Kelly Cae Hogan (soprano) Siegfried ..... Mati Turi (tenor) Hagen ..... Mats Almgren (bass) Gutrune ..... Giselle Allen (soprano) Gunther ..... Andrew Foster-Williams (bass baritone) Waltraute ..... Susan Bickley (mezzo) Alberich ..... Jo Pohlheim (bass baritone) First Norn ..... Fiona Kimm (mezzo) Second Norn ..... Heather Shipp (mezzo) Third Norn ..... Lee Bisset (soprano) Woglinde ..... Jeni Bern (soprano) Wellgunde ..... Madeleine Shaw (mezzo) Flosshilde ..... Sarah Castle (mezzo) Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North conducted by Richard Farnes. Donald Macleod with the climax to Wagner's Ring cycle Gotterdammerung. |