(Credit: Felix Broede)

Kent Nagano is set to lead the Ring Cycle under very unique circumstances.

The conductor will make history by leading the Concerto Köln in a performance played on early-19th century instruments with gut strings. Performances will begin in 2021 with each opera presented in a semi-staged version at the Kölner Philharmonie. The operas will also be performed at 435 tuning which was standard in 1858 as opposed to today’s standard at 440.

For the performances the Cologne University of Music, the Research Institute for Music Theater at the University of Bayreuth and the Institute for Speech Science at the Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg are being consulted for the performance with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia helping with costs.

Casting has not been announced as of yet but more information is set to come in coming months.