The monumental, nearly six-hour-long Götterdämmerung brings Der Ring des Nibelungen, also known as the Ring tetralogy, to a breathtaking conclusion at the Finnish National Opera. Starting on 17 May, the performances have attracted enormous interest.
The first instalment of Richard Wagner’s Ring tetralogy, Das Rheingold, was performed at the Finnish National Opera in August and September 2019. Die Walküre had to wait until autumn 2022, as repertoire changes caused by the Covid pandemic delayed its premiere. The performances of Siegfried took place in March and April 2023.
Over these past years, the Ring has been performed to full houses. Its visual aspect and direction, the Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera, as well as the soloists’ world class singing have been acclaimed by the audience and the critics alike. The Orchestra of the FNO and Chief Conductor Hannu Lintu earned particular praise for their contribution to the third instalment, Siegfried: ”Conductor Hannu Lintu and the Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera can justifiably be called the greatest heroes of Wagner’s work,” the national Helsingin Sanomat newspaper wrote after the premiere of Siegfried in 2023.
The upcoming premiere of the final, fourth instalment of the tetralogy, Götterdämmerung, is set in a dystopian future. The Ring is directed by Anna Kelo, with lighting, sets and visuals designed by Mikki Kunttu, and costumes by Erika Turunen. While the performances of Das Rheingold in 2019 were conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, as a result of Covid-19, Chief Conductor of Finnish National Opera and Ballet Hannu Lintu assumed the role for Die Walkure, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. The stellar cast of Götterdämmerung includes the singers Daniel Brenna, Tuomas Pursio, Jukka Rasilainen, Rúni Brattaberg, Johanna Rusanen, Reetta Haavisto, Tuija Knihtilä, Maiju Vaahtoluoto, Jenny Carlstedt, Sonja Herranen, Marjukka Tepponen, Mari Palo, and Jeni Packalen.
Productions of the Ring enjoy a strong international following, with enthusiasts travelling around the globe to see performances. The Finnish National Opera’s version of the Ring has attracted audiences from across Europe, the United States, Brazil, and Australia. The international press has also shown keen interest, with the first instalment, Das Rheingold, described as a breathtaking experience in Sweden’s Expressen.
Der Ring des Nibelungen, or the Ring, is Richard Wagner’s epic four-part opera cycle, which is regarded as one of the cornerstones of Western arts. This iconic work brings dedicated fans together year after year. Wagner devoted 26 years (1848–1874) to crafting his Ring saga. While he worked on the most monumental achievement in operatic history, a new venue was constructed in Bayreuth specifically for its performance. Wagner wrote the libretto himself, drawing inspiration from the mediaeval Nibelungenlied, Old Norse sagas and poems, and classical antiquity.
streaming available on Saturday, 25 May
Finnish Broadcasting company Yle will livestream Götterdämmerung from 3 p.m. on Saturday, 25 May. The stream will be available globally via the Finnish National Opera and Ballet’s Stage24 platform. In addition to this, a recording will be published on Stage24 later on. Earlier instalments of the Ring cycle, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, and Siegfried, are also available for viewing on Stage24 until 4 June, 2025:
Das Rheingold
Die Walküre
Siegfried
Richard Wagner: Götterdämmerung
Premiere on 17 May at 7 p.m.
Additional performances from 22 May to 4 June