As early as 1851, Wagner wrote, ‘I propose to produce my myth in three complete dramas, preceded by a lengthy Prelude.’ The Prelude was Das Rheingold (‘The Rhine Gold’) the preliminary evening of Wagner’s epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen (‘The Ring of the Nibelung’), which received its first complete performance in 1876. The unfolding events of Das Rheingold depict the theft of the Ring forged from the Rhinemaidens’ gold by the Nibelung dwarf Alberich, and his subsequent surrender of it to Wotan, ruler of the Gods, to pay his debt to the giants who constructed Valhalla. Alberich’s curse foreshadows the catastrophe to come. Sir Donald Runnicles conducts an internationally acclaimed cast in this innovative new production of Der Ring by Norwegian director Stefan Herheim.

The acclaimed Deutsche Oper Berlin Ring cycle was released in DVD (2107001) and Blu-ray (NBD0156VX) sets on Naxos in November 2022. The individual operas are now being made available to buy separately, starting with Das Rheingold.

Award-winning director Stefan Herheim is acclaimed as one of the most important directors of the moment, known for his emphasis on the historical contexts of ideas.

In addition to working with the Deutsche Oper Berlin Orchestra, Sir Donald Runnicles is a proven Wagner expert who is currently continuing his Ring interpretations at the opera houses of Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna and San Francisco, and at the BBC Proms in London, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

This audiovisual recording features an outstanding cast of world-class performers. Seen and Heard International called this performances of Das Rheingold ‘intense, propulsive and full of dramatic sweep’. ‘Stefan Herheim’s provocative production is intellectually elaborate and emotionally complex… Down in the pit, it’s a straight slam dunk. Donald Runnicles leads pacy yet detailed readings of all four operas, and his orchestra is superb. His conducting abounds in characterful touches, witty gesture and refulgent emotion’ (Opera News).

Cast:
- Wotan: Derek Welton (bass-baritone)
- Loge: Thomas Blondelle (tenor)
- Alberich: Markus Brück (baritone)
- Fasolt: Andrew Harris (bass)
- Fafner: Tobias Kehrer (bass)
- Fricka: Annika Schlicht (mezzo-soprano)
- Freia: Flurina Stucki (soprano)