The Ring Cycle

“You’re hearing one of the best Wagner orchestras in the world.”
--- The Times, November 2018

Free Streaming of Complete Ring Cycle Journey with the HK Phil! 

Thanks to the support from Naxos, we are releasing our full Ring Cycle recordings online for FREE, just for ONE MONTH, from 22 May until 21 June! We are unlocking the recordings in two consecutive weekends: the first 2 CDs - Das Rheingold and Die Walküre on 22 May, and CDs 3-4 - Siegfried and Götterdämmerung - on 29 May.

The Ring Cycle is Wagner’s supreme operatic masterpiece, written over the span of 30 years. We performed and completed the epic journey of the full Ring Cycle over four years from 2015 to 2018 under the baton of our Music Director Jaap van Zweden, which was recorded live by Naxos. In 2019, the recordings won us the prestigious Gramophone Orchestra of the Year award! Now, let’s celebrate Wagner’s birthday this year by revisiting this tremendous journey!

Opera-in-concert

The monumental Ring of the Nibelung (Ring Cycle) is Richard Wagner’s supreme operatic masterpiece. Written over the span of 30 years, Wagner’s epic saga is made up of four instalments: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung. Under Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) embarked on a historic four-year journey, starting in 2015, to complete the entire Ring Cycle, performing one instalment annually in concert, together with a stellar cast of the Wagnerian vocalists and three choruses. Altogether the Orchestra gave eight performances of the Cycle's four parts with a total audience numbering almost 13,000.  This venture also attracted over a hundred members of the media, and numerous highly complimentary reviews were generated.

With support from the Contestable Funding Pilot Scheme of the Home Affairs Bureau, the HK Phil has presented a series of free symposia and related activities led by scholars and experts. Associated with the concert performances, these activities aimed to enhance audience's understanding and appreciation of Wagner’s work, and the Ring Cycle in particular. 

Revisiting the greatest moments of the Ring Cycle

Die Walkure
WAGNER Die Walküre – Act I: Finale (Skelton, Melton, HK Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweden
WAGNER Die Walküre - Act III ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ (HK Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweden)

Siegfried
WAGNER  Siegfried

Podcast

Wagner expert Sue Elliott and Professor Liu Ching-chih, together with the HK Phil musicians, led you to have an extradordinary Ring journey via a series of podcasts.

HK Phil's Siegfried Podcast: Sue Elliott’s introduction
Sue Elliott's introduction to Götterdämmerung

Live Recording

The first-ever opera-in-concert performance of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle in Hong Kong, this four-year journey was also the first to be recorded and released on CD by an orchestra from Hong Kong. Released on the Naxos label, the four parts have been a huge success with audiences and critics alike. The live recordings of the HK Phil’s Ring Cycle parts one Das Rheingold, two Die Walküre, three Siegfried are now available on CD/Blu-Ray in local record stores. The last recording, Götterdämmerung and while a CD box set of the entire Ring Cycle were released in November 2018. 

Wagner Ring Cycle Box Set with a USB stick which contains the English and German libretti for all four operas, concert photos and interview videos.

Streaming  

Gallery

Das Rheingold (2015)

To introduce Wagner’s music and the epic Ring Cycle to the Hong Kong public, the HK Phil invited Wagner expert Ms Sue Elliott to host a symposium.

Conductor Jaap van Zweden and the numerous vocalists during the applause of the Das Rheingold.

Conductor Jaap van Zweden and the numerous vocalists during the applause of the Das Rheingold.

Ring partner Chow Sang Sang specially created the Ring necklace for this project.

The three Rhinemaidens in Das Rheingold, performed by (from left) mezzo-sopranos Hermine Haselböck and Aurhelia Varak, and soprano Eri Nakamura.

Die Walküre (2016)

Conductor Jaap van Zweden, together with tenor Matthias Goerne (Wotan) and soprano Petra Lang (Brünnhilde), during the applause of Die Walküre.

The love story of Sieglinde (by Heidi Melton) and Siegmund (by Stuart Skelton) captivated the hearts of the audience.

The Valkyries sisters met and gave a compelling performance in the third act of Die Walküre.

Illustrations of our cast members by local illustrators were displayed during the “Activity Day” prior to Die Walküre, alongside a demonstration of Wagner brass instruments at the foyer.

Illustrations of our cast members by local illustrators were displayed during the “Activity Day” prior to Die Walküre, alongside a demonstration of Wagner brass instruments at the foyer.

Siegfried (2017)

In January 2017 Jaap van Zweden conducted the third chapter of the Ring Cycle, Siegfried.

Soprano Valentina Farcas sang from the choir stall as Woodbird, telling Siegfried (by Simon O’Neill) the plot of Mime.

Siegfried and Brunnhilde proclaims their love in the phenomenal duet in the last act of Siegfried.

Tenor David Cangelosi played Mime in Siegfried.

The protagonist Siegfried was played by New Zealand tenor Simon O’Neill.

Ring Discovery Day

Siegfried Drawing Competition

Chief Executive Michael MacLeod and the winners of the Siegfried Drawing Competition

As in previous years, the HK Phil invited Wagner expert Ms Sue Elliott to host a symposium to introduce Wagner’s music and The Ring to the Hong Kong public.

Götterdämmerung (2018)

In January 2018 Jaap van Zweden led the HK Phil, together with a stellar of Wagner vocalists and the Bamberg Symphony Chorus, Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus and State Choir Latvija in the final chapter of the Ring Cycle, Götterdämmerung.

Tenor Daniel Brenna as Siegfried (left) and soprano Gun-Brit Barmin as Brünnhilde.

Bass-baritone Shenyang as Gunther (left) and bass Eric Halfvarson as Hagen.

A steerhorn player and the chorus

Chief Executive Michael MacLeod, the docent for the Ringers in the Ring exhibition.

The Ring exhibition

Demonstration of a Wagner tuba by a HK Phil horn player Russell Bonifede.

Wagner expert Sue Elliott was invited to speak on the Götterdämmerung Discovery Day.

Critical Acclaim

Das Rheingold

Die Walküre

Siegfried

Götterdämmerung

Media Coverage