Posted on 09/07/2006 12:22:24 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
The Los Angeles Opera will spend a $6m (£3.2m) gift from two philanthropists on staging its first production of Richard Wagner's epic Ring cycle. The four-opera production, which takes days to perform, took 28 years for the German composer to write.
Tenor Placido Domingo, who is general director of the opera company, thanked Eli and Edythe Broad - who made money from house building - for the donation.
"I hope to sing the role of Siegmund, if I am still singing then," he said.
"The far-reaching generosity of their gift will help make this vision a reality," the 65-year-old added.
Details about the cast and schedule will be released later this month.
Success hoped
In the past the Ring cycle has been profitable in cities like Chicago and Bayreuth, Germany.
Eli Broad, who founded real estate company KB Home and financial services firm SunAmerica, expects the Los Angeles production to be just as successful.
"The Ring's impact on the city's cultural and economic life goes beyond the power of the production itself," he said.
"A Ring cycle must be presented over a series of six days or so. It encourages visitors from all over the world to stay at least a week."
His wife Edythe suggested staging Wagner's work in Los Angeles.
"My husband didn't want to take me to Europe to hear it," she joked.
Based on Norse mythology, Der Ring des Nibelungen - known also as the Ring cycle - tells the story of the struggle over a ring so powerful that it gives its bearer the ability to rule the world.
It took Wagner 28 years to finish it because of the complicated rehearsals and difficulties in casting.
Das Rheingold, the first part of the Wagner's Ring Cycle, made its debut in 1876.
Wow....I didn't think Don Giovanni could be ruined but it sounds like they did.
Mozart rules.....
OOps! Tetrology?
If you think about it, it is not much money. The Ring is four HUGE operas. This cycle alone is more than many opera companies' entire seasons and 6 mil for a whole season isn't much.
Also, what other operas are they going to do for the season that they show the Ring and how much of that season's budget is going to be used for the Ring?
They will certainly have to do more fund raising.
"Oh, Brunnhilde you're so wuv-wee."
"Yes I know it, I can't help it."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.