The Ring cycle is about mythology. Washington National Opera is going to inaugurate its new production of Wagner's magnum opus this spring, in collaboration with San Francisco Opera. WNO is in the United States. What is the American mythology? Yes, Francesca Zambello's production is going to be an American Ring, with some Native American costume ideas. We read the press release ourselves, but La Cieca reacted without flinching (Pass That Peace Pipe, December 29). The pictures are worth a thousand words. I'm still very much looking forward to it.
UPDATE:
See also Tim Page, Washington Opera To Give Wagner's 'Ring' a New, American Setting (Washington Post, January 3). If you do not recall Alex Ross's very funny citation of the Washington Ring cycle as ripe with political possibilities, Das Rheingold is "the one in which the gods finance selfish schemes by bilking others," which Alex mentioned in juxtaposition with a hilarious catalogue of Republicans interested in opera.
A. C. Douglas thinks the American Ring has possibilities. Wonders never cease. As I said, I'm still looking forward to these productions. Perhaps ACD will break his long ban on attending performances and join us in Washington for Das Rheingold this March?
as they say: "t'is better to vomit in front of the tepee with disgust than it is to be bored." i just hope her costume designer et al have learned some very basics about wagner and the story-line this time. (see the semi-debacle that was Die Walküre in April 2004.
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