MCO Presents MINI-RING with Jane Eaglen, Richard Paul Fink, Jay Hunter Morris & More Today

In association with the Wagner Society of the Upper Midwest, Minnesota Concert Opera (MCO) announces its all-star lineup for a concert version of David Seaman's abbreviated Ring Cycle, which reduces the four-opera, 16-hour cycle to one four-hour performance.

One of the most unique offerings celebrating the 200th anniversary of Wagner's birth, this production brings some of the world's biggest Wagnerian stars to the MCO stage in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

WHAT: THE MINI-RING
Wagner's Ring Cycle, the abbreviated version by David Seaman
With orchestra and English supertitles
Conducted by Jonathan Khuner
WHEN: SEPTEMBER 13 & 15, 2013
WHERE: The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts
528 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403
TICKETS: On-sale April 13 at 612-206-3600 or thecowlescenter.org

JANE EAGLEN, soprano (Brünnhilde/Wellgunde)
One of the leading sopranos of the modern era, Grammy Award-winning Jane Eaglen has performed her signature role of Brünnhilde at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, in Seattle legendary Ring Cycle, and others. Critics have proclaimed British-born Eaglen the worthy successor to the great dramatic sopranos Flagstad, Traubel, and Nilsson.

RICHARD PAUL FINK, baritone (Alberich/Fasolt)
The acclaimed dramatic baritone and Wagnerian superstar who recently performed in LA Opera's complete Ring Cycle, Richard Paul Fink has made his mark at the Met, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opera National de Paris, Welsh National Opera, Washington National Opera, and many others.

JAY HUNTER MORRIS, tenor (Siegfried/Siegmund/Froh)
Many opera lovers discovered the tall, Texan tenor Jay Hunter Morris for the first time in movie theaters when he starred as the hero Siegfried in the Metropolitan Opera's live HD broadcast of Wagner's Götterdammerung in 2012. Since then, his career has skyrocketed with leading dramatic roles scheduled throughout the world, including his monumental 2012 appearance as Captain Ahab in San Francisco Opera's production of Moby Dick, which prompted the San Jose Mercury News to describe Morris' Ahab as "a force of nature . . . he sang with a pressurized fury that practically shook the seats of the War Memorial Opera House."

PHILIP SKINNER, bass-baritone (Wotan/Gunther)
The internationally acclaimed bass-baritone, seen on DVD in productions with San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, and Canadian Opera brings his stellar Wagnerian roles to MCO's Mini-Ring. Skinner is a mainstay at the world's greatest opera houses including Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Victoria State Opera in Melbourne, Opera de Nantes, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington Opera, the Spoleto Festival, and many others.

LURETTA BYBEE, mezzo-soprano (Fricka/Flosshilde)
Ms. Bybee will appear in MCO's Mini-Ring fresh off performances in Seattle Opera's renowned Ring Cycle. From her first international success singing the title role in the world tour of Peter Brook's La Tragedie de Carmen, Bybee has proven herself to be an artist of remarkable range and versatility.

KEVIN LANGAN, bass (Fafner/Hagen/Hunding)
Langan's "deep, toffee-smooth voice and convincing interpretive abilities" (New York Times) have made him a favorite with virtually all of the leading North American opera companies. A leading bass with the San Francisco for 30 years, his career throughout the world spans a repertoire of more than 80 roles and he is one of the most sought-after artists in opera and concert.

SALLY WOLF, soprano (Wogline/Freia/Sieglinde/Woodbird/Guntrune)
Another star of Seattle's Ring Cycle, Sally Wolf has sung her brilliant dramatic coloratura and lyric repertoire all over Europe and North America. A former interpreter of the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, she performed the role in most of the world's prestigious opera houses including The Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Vienna Staatsoper, Salzburg Festival, and many others.

JONATHAN KHUNER, conductor: Californian Jonathan Khuner's main posts are as assistant conductor and prompter for San Francisco Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and he has also been the prompter for the Ring Cycle at the Bayreuther Festspiele.

The intimate scale of the 505-seat, state-of-the-art Goodale Theater at the Cowles Center assures that this once-in-a-lifetime production will sell out quickly. MCO will be providing all-inclusive package deals as options for an unforgettable weekend of opera, dining, and fine accommodations in the Twin Cities. These options will soon be posted on MCO's website:

mnconcertopera.org

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