BBC Plays Wagner's Ring Cycle

Posted by Chad Criswell May 7, 2006

Wagner's Ring cycle was never intended to be performed as a single massive unit of music. In fact, Wagner's intention was to spread out the performance over several evenings in order to give the performers (and the listeners) time to recouperate after each segment.

The four operas of Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelungen) include Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), Siegfried and Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods). Each opera builds upon the previous plot line building to a stunning heroic climax.

Like most of Wagner's compositions the Ring cycle is pure Romantic in its style with visions of epic battles, love, and chivalry in its finest. If you missed the BBC broadcast of the complete cycle try taking the individual operas out for a spin on your ipod. The cycle is Wagner at his finest and you shall not be dissapointed.