The Mariinsky Theatre will close its season with one of the most anticipated events of the past two years – on 1, 2, 4 and 6 August modernised versions of Richard Wagner’s monumental tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen, will be presented on the New Stage. For the first time St Petersburg audiences will experience the updated cycle in its entirety, with Valery Gergiev conducting.
The first Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Mariinsky Theatre was staged between 1900 and 1905 under the direction of the legendary conductor Eduard Nápravník. At that time the operas were performed in Russian. The monumental Wagnerian tetralogy remained on the theatre’s playbill until the First World War, after the beginning of which all German operas were excluded from the repertoire.
Almost a century later, in the new millennium, Russian audiences were able to enjoy this grandiose work once again. In 2003, thanks to the efforts of Valery Gergiev, Der Ring des Nibelungen returned to the Mariinsky stage, becoming a true breakthrough for Russian musical theatre and establishing the Mariinsky Theatre among the world’s best opera houses. This production of Der Ring des Nibelungen was shown with great success in many countries across America, Europe and Asia, and also received recognition in Richard Wagner’s homeland, Germany. Das Rheingold and Die Walküre were released on the Mariinsky label.
In the 20th anniversary year of the production, as part of a wide celebration of the 210th anniversary of Richard Wagner’s birth, the decision was made to update the Ring, enriching it with new lighting and video solutions. Valery Gergiev was the author of the update concept, with Gleb Filshtinsky as the lighting designer and creative video producer. The new versions are intended to reflect the full power of the composer’s artistic and musical vision; as Richard Wagner himself wished, his creation continues to keep pace with the times, remaining relevant art for the modern viewer. Realising such a breathtaking spectacle on stage was technologically impossible just a few years ago.
Last season the first two parts of the famous epic were presented to St Petersburg audiences in their updated form. Chinese audiences were the first to see the modernised tetralogy in its entirety – performances of the four Der Ring des Nibelungen operas took place in autumn 2023 at the Shanghai Grand Theatre as part of the Mariinsky’s largest tour ever. Very soon all four performances will be presented to Russian audiences as well. On 1 August the XXXII Music Festival Stars of the White Nights will conclude with a performance of Das Rheingold. On 2 August Die Walküre will be presented, followed by Siegfried on 4 August. The performance of Götterdämmerung on 6 August will be a bright final chord of the entire musical season on the New Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre.
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