The international cast for Seattle Opera's 2009 presentation of Richard Wagner's "Ring des Nibelungen" has been announced by general director Speight Jenkins.
Bass-baritone Greer Grimsley reprises his 2005 Wotan, accompanied by such veterans as Richard Paul Fink (Alberich), Margaret Jane Wray (Sieglinde and Third Norn) and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe (repeating as Fricka and stepping over from Third to Second Norn). New to the cast are American soprano Janice Baird as Brünnhilde, Danish tenor Stig Fogh Andersen as Siegfried and Australian tenor Stuart Skelton as Siegmund.
"With Stephen Wadsworth as director, every repetition of the 'Ring' is rehearsed as if it were a new production," said Jenkins. "In this, our third repetition of the Cycle, I decided to cast several new singers, to vary the mix extensively. I think we have a cast that will give our audiences a rewarding and new experience in the Seattle 'Ring,' and one that I hope will make the best 'Ring' we have ever presented."
Robert Spano, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, returns to conduct; Spano conducted his first 'Ring' for Seattle Opera in 2005. Director Wadsworth reteams with Thomas Lynch as set designer, Martin Pakledinaz as costume designer and Peter Kaczorowski as lighting designer.
The Wadsworth production of Wagner's 'Ring' - Seattle Opera's third 'Ring' production - was first presented in the summer of 2001 and was repeated in the summer of 2005. Both cycles sold out nearly a year in advance.
The 2005 'Ring' was enjoyed by audiences from 49 states and 19 countries.
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