Washington Opera to do Wagner's 'Ring' in 2016

The Washington National Opera announced Tuesday it will present Richard Wagner's monumental four-part "Ring" cycle for the first time in its 56-year history in 2016. The demanding Ring cycle -- 18.5 hours of music -- will be staged in its entirety three times, the company said in a statement. The Washington National Opera has already separately staged the first three segments of Wagner's work -- "Das Rheingold" in 2006, "Die Walkure" in 2007 and "Siegfried" in 2009. "Gotterdammerung" was presented in concert form in 2009. "I am honored to finally bring my complete vision of the Ring back to its home at WNO," the company's artistic advisor and Ring director Francesca Zambello said. "This 'American Ring' started and evolved here in Washington, and I'm looking forward to having our DC audience experience it in the intimacy of the Kennedy Center Opera House as a complete work, as Wagner intended." The WNO, which merged with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, was unable to stage a complete cycle due to financial difficulties, leading to the concert staging of "Gotterdammerung." The full cycle was eventually staged by the San Francisco Opera. Cast information will be announced at a later date, the WNO said.