MARCUS
MERKEL

"The Ring of the Nibelung" in one evening ... 15 hours of music. Such an event would indeed demand an iron constitution from both audience and stage. But in this radical, astute and amusingly entertaining summary of the four operas, the audience experiences Richard Wagner's work shortened by around twelve hours: "A painful, if not irresponsible intervention, which can only be excused by the aims of this evening: to awaken the longing for the whole among Wagner's friends and to give his opponents the opportunity to finally be able to convincingly justify their previously unfounded prejudices."

And so Loriot sheds light on the complicated plot centred on this Ring, which ruins gods, giants and humans over three generations and four operas. Loriot takes the subject seriously and does not see his "Ring" mission as a satire, but rather as a witty and humorous introduction to the cosmos of "Das Rheingold", "Die Walküre", "Siegfried" and "Götterdämmerung".

The insights of the popular humourist are not only a pure delight for opera novices, but also for Wagner connoisseurs and a top-class artistic treat. The Rheinische Philharmonie state orchestra will perform in the Rhein-Mosel-Halle under the direction of Marcus Merkel, the theatre's chief conductor.

"The Ring of the Nibelung" in one evening ... 15 hours of music. Such an event would indeed demand an iron constitution from both audience and stage. But in this radical, astute and amusingly entertaining summary of the four operas, the audience experiences Richard Wagner's work shortened by around twelve hours: "A painful, if not irresponsible intervention, which can only be excused by the aims of this evening: to awaken the longing for the whole among Wagner's friends and to give his opponents the opportunity to finally be able to convincingly justify their previously unfounded prejudices."

And so Loriot sheds light on the complicated plot centred on this Ring, which ruins gods, giants and humans over three generations and four operas. Loriot takes the subject seriously and does not see his "Ring" mission as a satire, but rather as a witty and humorous introduction to the cosmos of "Das Rheingold", "Die Walküre", "Siegfried" and "Götterdämmerung".

The insights of the popular humourist are not only a pure delight for opera novices, but also for Wagner connoisseurs and a top-class artistic treat. The Rheinische Philharmonie state orchestra will perform in the Rhein-Mosel-Halle under the direction of Marcus Merkel, the theatre's chief conductor.

"The Ring of the Nibelung" in one evening ... 15 hours of music. Such an event would indeed demand an iron constitution from both audience and stage. But in this radical, astute and amusingly entertaining summary of the four operas, the audience experiences Richard Wagner's work shortened by around twelve hours: "A painful, if not irresponsible intervention, which can only be excused by the aims of this evening: to awaken the longing for the whole among Wagner's friends and to give his opponents the opportunity to finally be able to convincingly justify their previously unfounded prejudices."

And so Loriot sheds light on the complicated plot centred on this Ring, which ruins gods, giants and humans over three generations and four operas. Loriot takes the subject seriously and does not see his "Ring" mission as a satire, but rather as a witty and humorous introduction to the cosmos of "Das Rheingold", "Die Walküre", "Siegfried" and "Götterdämmerung".

The insights of the popular humourist are not only a pure delight for opera novices, but also for Wagner connoisseurs and a top-class artistic treat. The Rheinische Philharmonie state orchestra will perform in the Rhein-Mosel-Halle under the direction of Marcus Merkel, the theatre's chief conductor.

When the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton arrives in Nagasaki, the intermediary Goro has already prepared everything: a house with staff and marriage to the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, all with one month's notice. Cio-Cio-San is taking a big risk with this marriage, as she has to give up both the culture and religion of her homeland and expose herself to the ostracism of her outraged family. Shortly after the wedding night, Pinkerton leaves Japan with the promise of a speedy return. But three years pass without his return. Nevertheless, Cio-Cio-San clings to the hope that she will soon be living with Pinkerton and their three-year-old child again. And suddenly, one night, a cannon shot announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship. Unlike Cio Cio-San, Pinkerton has built a new life for himself in the years since the wedding: a new American family and a new wife who accompanies him to bring Cio-Cio-San's child to America. Desperate, she sees suicide as the only way out.

Puccini's overwhelming musical portrayal of the greatest hope and deepest despair has made his "Japanese tragedy" one of the most popular and most frequently performed works of operatic art. Directed by Markus Dietze, the open skies of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress provide an incomparable setting for the story of this life's destiny caught between two worlds. The musical interpretation by the chief conductor of the Koblenz Theatre is sure to open up new worlds for the audience.

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Production: Markus Dietze
Stage and costumes: Christian Binz
State Orchestra Rheinische Philharmonie

When the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton arrives in Nagasaki, the intermediary Goro has already prepared everything: a house with staff and marriage to the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, all with one month's notice. Cio-Cio-San is taking a big risk with this marriage, as she has to give up both the culture and religion of her homeland and expose herself to the ostracism of her outraged family. Shortly after the wedding night, Pinkerton leaves Japan with the promise of a speedy return. But three years pass without his return. Nevertheless, Cio-Cio-San clings to the hope that she will soon be living with Pinkerton and their three-year-old child again. And suddenly, one night, a cannon shot announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship. Unlike Cio Cio-San, Pinkerton has built a new life for himself in the years since the wedding: a new American family and a new wife who accompanies him to bring Cio-Cio-San's child to America. Desperate, she sees suicide as the only way out.

Puccini's overwhelming musical portrayal of the greatest hope and deepest despair has made his "Japanese tragedy" one of the most popular and most frequently performed works of operatic art. Directed by Markus Dietze, the open skies of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress provide an incomparable setting for the story of this life's destiny caught between two worlds. The musical interpretation by the chief conductor of the Koblenz Theatre is sure to open up new worlds for the audience.

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Production: Markus Dietze
Stage and costumes: Christian Binz
State Orchestra Rheinische Philharmonie