Ring cycle premieres

THE Melbourne Opera Company’s presentation of Richard Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle had its final few rehearsals last week on stage at Ulumbarra Theatre before the six-week run officially started.

The company performed Das Reingold and Die Walküre last weekend, the first two of the four acts that make up the full Ring Cycle, and Siegfried and Götterdämmerung will premiere this weekend.

Producer Greg Hocking said the orchestra, based in Melbourne, travelled to Bendigo two weeks ago for rehearsals.

He said the Ulumbarra is one of his favourite theatres in Australia due to its unique, high performer-to-audience ratio, and is feeling positive now that it’s about to be fully presented to the public.

“Finally, we’re here, we’ve been working on this since 2019,” he said.

The City of Greater Bendigo has been involved in the preparation since 2020, and Hocking said he is grateful for the council’s support.

“It’s been a hell of a journey, but it wouldn’t have been possible, seriously, without this excellent venue,” he said.

With an all-Australian cast, aside from the conductor, the production has involved about 300 people over three years and cost $5 million.

As for the plot, Hocking said it’s so convoluted he’s still working it out himself, though he has no doubt it’s been a major inspiration for modern classics like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones.

“There’s death, there’s love, there’s power, there’s gold, an average day in Bendigo,” he said.

“Tolkien should be paying royalties to the Wagner estate, as should Game of Thrones. This is a very influential piece from the 19th century, that has flowed through, to everyone’s surprise, to pop culture.”

The production has been a boon for the local theatre scene with many cast and crew from Bendigo as possible taking part, including chorus singers and technicians.

Manager at Bendigo Venues and Events, Julie Amos, said it’s a great opportunity for local talent to grow their skills through an international-level production.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said.

Ms Amos emphasised the special nature of a regional city like Bendigo hosting the opera.

“All of Sydney has never put it on,” she said. “They have an opera house, but we have Ulumbarra.”

She said it’s difficult to get a ticket for the opera in Bayreuth, Wagner’s hometown.

“We’re really putting Bendigo next door to Bayreuth, and that’s an incredible thing for a regional city in Victoria, Australia,” she said.

Ms Amos said she’s proud that the city is positioned to offer such a prestigious cultural experience to both domestic and international visitors, and that about five per cent of ticketholders are from overseas.

“That’s why we do it, all these long days, for people to come and watch the opera and enjoy something that was written 160 years ago,” she said.