Catherine Foster, Nina Stemme, Daniel Brenna and More Star in WNO's THE RING Tonight

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents its first complete presentation of Richard Wagner's four-part Ring cycle. Three full cycles will be presented from tonight, April 30, to May 22, 2016 and will be directed by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and conducted by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin.

WNO's Ring cycles feature two outstanding Bru?nnhildes. Acclaimed British soprano Catherine Foster, who has stunned audiences at Wagner's hometown festival of Bayreuth in performances of the role, will make her U.S. debut in Cycles I and II. Internationally renowned Swedish soprano Nina Stemme, whose performances as Bru?nnhilde were highly acclaimed in this production's San Francisco run in 2011, makes her WNO debut in Cycle III. American heldentenor Daniel Brenna, a noted interpreter of Siegfried at opera houses across Europe, takes on the role in the United States for the first time. American bass-baritone Alan Held, an experienced Wagnerian who has appeared in more than 20 WNO productions, returns to his celebrated portrayal of Wotan.

Ring Cycle I, featuring Ms. Foster, runs tonight, April 30, through May 6, 2016. Ring Cycle II, also featuring Ms. Foster, runs from May 10-15, 2016. Ring Cycle III, featuring Ms. Stemme, runs from May 17-22, 2016. A complete schedule of the operas in each cycle appears below; all performances will take place in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

The Ring is an epic four-part story that follows the struggles of gods, heroes, and several mythical creatures for possession of a magical ring. From a grand castle in the sky to a dark underground city, from the banks of the Rhine to a mountaintop ringed by magic fire, three generations fight for domination over the entire world.

Sponsorship packages with priority seating for The Ring will go on sale in September 2014. Subscription packages will be available in Spring 2015.

The previously announced creative team includes direction by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, set design by Michael Yeargan, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Mark McCullough, and projection design by Jan Hartley and S. Katy Tucker. The WNO Orchestra will be conducted by noted Wagnerian and WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin. Each opera will be performed in German with projected English titles.

The company is planning a wide range of events during the spring of 2016 to engage Wagner aficionados, patrons new to Wagner's Ring, college students, children, and the city at large in Wagner's groundbreaking music and in the American historical themes that are the foundation of Francesca Zambello's striking production. Events will include lectures and symposia in music, literature, the visual arts, and more; additional information will be announced in the coming months.

These spring 2016 performances will be the first time the company has presented the Ring in complete cycles in its history. WNO has previously presented the first three operas of the cycle individually: The Rhinegold in 2006, The Valkyrie in 2007, and Siegfried in 2009. The fourth opera, Twilight of the Gods, was presented in a successful concert staging in 2009.

"I am excited to bring my complete vision of the Ring back to its home at WNO," said WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, the director of the cycles. "This production was conceived and evolved here in Washington, and I'm looking forward to having our D.C. audience experience it in the intimacy of the Kennedy Center Opera House as a complete work. We have assembled the best international and American artists to work with our experienced Wagnerian music director and our fine orchestra, and I look forward to giving our audiences the chance to experience the Ring in one-week cycles as Wagner intended."

More information on Ring casting, ticket pricing, and on-sale dates will be announced in the coming months. For further details, go to www.kennedy-center.org/ring.

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