(Credits: Stefan Vinke / Iona MacPherson / Vitalij Kowaljow official website)

Opera Australia has announced new dates for its production of Richard Wagner’s Ring cycle.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the opera house was forced to postpone the production for 2021.

Wagner’s acclaimed masterwork was originally been scheduled for November 2020. Per the new schedule, the season will now open on October 29, 2021 at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane with the three full Ring Cycles.

“Being able to confirm the dates so far in advance has given us the opportunity to ensure all the original talent are able to return,” said the Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini in the statement.

“We really need to thank our government and artistic partners who have moved mountains to make this happen. It’s testament to the level of commitment amongst the group to bring this incredible production to the stage,” added Terracini.

Famed German heldentenor Stefan Vinke will perform the role of Siegfried, while the British dramatic soprano Allison Oakes will appear as Brünnhilde. Bass Vitalij Kowaljow will perform the role of Wotan. Tenor Rosario La Spina will portray Siegmund, and soprano Anna-Louise Cole will star as Sieglinde.

The cast will be rounded out by Warwick Fyfe as Alberich, Andreas Conrad as Mime, Daniel Sumegi in the roles of both Fasolt and Hagen, Luke Gabbedy as Gunther, Maija Kovalevska as Gutrune, Jacqueline Dark in the role of Fricka, Mariana Hong as both Freia and Helmwige, Donald Thomson in the roles of both Fafner and Hunding, Andrew Moran as Donner, Dean Bassett as Froh, Liane Keegan in the role of Erda, and Hubert Francis as Loge.

Eva Kong, Jane Ede, Dominica Matthews, Olivia Cranwell, Deborah Humble, Sian Sharp, Agnes Sarkis, Angela Hogan, and Chanyang Choi will appear in the roles of the Valkyries and the three Norns. Stacey Alleaume will sing the Woodbird.

Philippe Auguin will conduct the new production by Chen Shi-Zheng.

Performances will take place on October 29 through November 4  for cycle one; November 6 through November 12 for cycle two; and November 14 through November 20 for cycle three.