With December almost upon us, Brisbane – in particular the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC) Lyric Theatre – is going to be home to some of the world’s most iconic works of opera. The venue, often home to one maybe two different productions a month (often long-lived musicals), will be host to five different works throughout December – the four works comprising of The Ring Cycle (Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung) which come in at between two and a half hours and 6 hours and 40 minutes apiece, and seven performances of Aida. This season, ultimately postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until next month, is a feat of preparation, artistry and stage-craft, with none of the performances clustered together during the month.
While availability is limited, and the performance prices are considerably higher than most of the musicals that grace the stage (Upwards of $2,360 for all four performances in The Ring Cycle, sans the almost unsubstancial-in-comparison $7.20 transaction fee), there is some still tickets available for opera afficionados to experience what is one of the more incredible endurance rounds of opera – the fifteen hour epic that is Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
The Ring Cycle
Come on an exhilarating adventure with men and maidens, gods and giants, dragons and dwarves. As greed and violence threaten to destroy the heavens and earth, a glimmer of hope rises from an unexpected source. Brought to life by visionary Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng, who explores Wagner’s legendary tale through a futuristic lens.
The Ring Cycle is being produced in Queensland by Opera Australia, with support of both the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency. It is also being produced in association with a number of entities, including Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Opera Queensland and Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
![Brisbane to Be Home of Operatic Masterpieces Next Month [December 2023] - The Ring Cycle in Full and Aida 1](https://files.otakustudy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/22111248/image-1.png "Brisbane to Be Home of Operatic Masterpieces Next Month [December 2023] - The Ring Cycle in Full and Aida 1")
DAS RHEINGOLD
The struggle for power and wealth in Das Rheingold irrevocably alters the order of the universe and determines the course of the entire saga.
Spurned by the three beautiful Rhinemaidens, the Nibelung dwarf Alberich steals their gold and forges it into a ring that gives unlimited power to its wearer.
When Wotan, the lord of the gods, steals the ring, Alberich curses it and all who wear it.
DIE WALKÜRE
After Das Rheingold’s rarefied realm of gods, monsters and nature spirits, in Die Walküre Wagner plunges headlong into the highly emotional world of humanity.
Love animates the actions of all the leading characters: Wotan, who wants to protect his children but is forced to forsake them; his twin offspring Siegmund and Sieglinde who fall passionately in love; and his warrior daughter Brünnhilde, who defies Wotan by trying to protect the twins.
He punishes her by stripping her of her immortality and putting her to sleep surrounded by a wall of flames that only the greatest hero can brave.
SIEGFRIED
Following Sieglinde’s death, Siegfried has been raised by the dwarf Mime, brother of Alberich. Although Mime loathes Siegfried, he hopes Siegfried will kill the dragon Fafner, guardian of the all-powerful ring. Instead, Siegfried kills both Fafner and Mime, claims the ring for himself and sets off to find the sleeping Brünnhilde.
Siegfried braves the flames, wakes her with a kiss and the two declare their powerful feelings of love in one of the most thrilling and extended love duets in all opera.
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
Siegfried is unwittingly ensnared in a plot by Gunther and Gutrune and their half-brother, who wants the ring for himself. Siegfried drinks a magic potion that makes him forget Brünnhilde and fall in love with Gutrune.
Enraged by his infidelity, Brünnhilde joins forces with Hagen, who murders Siegfried. However, on discovering the truth about Siegfried’s betrayal, Brünnhilde takes drastic action. In her Immolation Scene, she redeems the world by leaping into Siegfried’s funeral pyre and returning the ring to its rightful owners.
The Rhinemaidens joyfully reclaim their gold, drag Hagen into the depths and the old world order is swept away by flood and fire.
For more information on how to book tickets to The Ring Cycle in Brisbane, visit the official Opera Australia website
Aida
Arguably the more accessible of the opera works coming to the Lyric Theatre in December 2023 is the long-awaited Brisbane season of Aida, which will have seven performances dispersed between the three planned cycles of The Ring Cycle. Evening performances will be held on Wednesday 6th, Saturday 9th, Monday 11th, Wednesday 13th, Monday 18th, and Wednesday 20th, with a special audio described and pre-performance talk afternoon performance taking place on Saturday 16 December.
A rebellion is brewing on Egypt’s borders, and for both the oppressor and the oppressed, loves and loyalties are about to be tested. Egypt needs a hero to lead their army, and the High Priest has chosen Radamès. Egypt’s fortunes will turn on his sword, but Radamès has a higher purpose. Through victory in battle, he hopes to win the hand of the beautiful slave girl Aida — handmaiden to the princess Amneris, and secretly, an Ethiopian princess.
Aida is torn between her love for the Egyptian hero and her despair for the country he must march against — her homeland. And the Princess Amneris, who also desires Radamès, is beginning to have suspicions that her hero might prefer her slave…
As Radamès returns to Egypt in triumph, Aida is greeted with a terrible sight — her father Amonasro, the King of Ethiopia, is among the slaves. Just when all seems lost, the King of Egypt deals another blow: promising the triumphant Radamès his daughter Amneris’ hand.
On the banks of the Nile, the lovers arrange to meet one last time.But the conquered Ethiopian King has a plan to save his country. Aida has to make a devastating choice. In the darkness, the King’s plan, Aida’s conflicted heart and Radamès’ steadfast love collide in a devastating finale.
The 2023 Brisbane season of Aida features Natalie Aroyan as Aida, with Elena Gabouri as Amneris, Diego torre as Radames, Michael honeyman as Amonasro, Alexander Vinogradov as Ramis, Conal Coad as The King, Jennifer Black as the High Priestess and Dean Bassett as the Messenger, complemented by additional vocals from the Opera Australia Chorus & Opera Queensland Chorus and some local music backing by Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets to any of the seven performances are available from $69.00, with booking information available via the Opera Australia website. This is being produced by Opera Australia in association with Opera Queensland.
