For years Falk Struckmann has brought audiences memorable performances, ranging from his show-stopping Iago in Verdi’s “Otello” to his unforgettable Hagen in “Götterdämmerung.” His work has elevated his status as one of the most important singers of our time, performing in every major theater.

This week, he continues to forge his legendary status, making his San Francisco Opera debut and his role debut as Alberich in the company highly anticipated “Ring Cycle.” As a Wagnerian, Struckmann has sung numerous Ring Cycles around the world in Milan, Hamburg, Vienna, and Stockholm in multiple roles and each one of the roles has become a signature to his repertoire. As a result, it should be enlightening to see what he makes out of the villainous Alberich across three of the operas.

For those not present in San Francisco, Struckmann returns to Vienna for another Ring Cycle as well as for “Der Freischütz,” which he also performs at the Berlin State Opera. He will also be at the Deustche Oper Berlin for “Der fliegende Holländer.”

Recordings 

For those not familiar with Struckmann’s voice, he has a number of recordings of the Ring Cycle in the role of Wotan, as well as of “Parsifal,” “Lohengrin,” and “Otello” alongside Renée Fleming and Johan Botha.

Here is a clip of him from “Parsifal”