August, 2006 - Nr. 8
CBC RADIO TWO IS THE EXCLUSIVE LIVE BROADCASTER OF THE FIRST CANADIAN
PRODUCTION OF
WAGNER’S EPIC RING CYCLE
Music lovers across Canada will have a front row seat at the first-ever Canadian production of Richard Wagner’s entire epic tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by tuning into CBC Radio Two for its exclusive live national broadcast of the Canadian Opera Company (COC) production. CBC Radio’s Howard Dyck hosts the broadcast of the more than 16-hour, German-sung opera extravaganza. The four operas will be broadcast over four days - September 12, 13, 15 and 17.
"This ranks as one of the biggest broadcast events CBC Radio Two has ever brought to Canadians," said Mark Steinmetz, Director of Radio Music, CBC Radio. "We are excited to share the majesty of The Ring and the calibre of performers that the COC has put together. This, along with the exceptional sound quality of the new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, will provide listeners across the country with a truly remarkable experience."
The monumental opera features a stellar creative team, including Canadian film and theatre directors Atom Egoyan, François Girard, theatre and opera director Tim Albery, Canadian designer and director Michael Levine, and conductor Richard Bradshaw. Internationally renowned performers include bass-baritone Pavlo Hunka, sopranos Susan Bullock, Adrianne Pieczonka and Joni Henson, baritone John Fanning, and tenors Clifton Forbis and Christian Franz.
For opera aficionados it’s an experience not to be missed, as
Wagner’s Ring Cycle is widely considered to be one of the grandest pieces of music ever conceived. With the COC’s Toronto performance nearly sold out, CBC Radio Two is the destination to experience this historic event.The broadcast will air as follows:
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Das Rheingold - September 12 at 6:30 p.m. ET
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Die Walküre - September 13 at 6:30 p.m. ET
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Siegfried - September 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET
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Götterdämmerung - September 17 at 1:00 p.m. ET
In addition, CBC Radio goes beyond the broadcast to offer listeners documentaries, spoofs and the chance to "remix The Ring".
CBC Radio invites listeners to Remix The Ring (2 ½ minutes of it)! They can download the file of Richard Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries at
www.cbc.ca/thering and remix it any way they see fit. The contest closes Monday, August 21 with online voting for listeners’ favourites starting Tuesday, September 5.CBC Radio One’s GO will give away tickets to its first fall show broadcasting live on Saturday, September 9 at 10 a.m. ET from the COC’s home at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. STUDIO SPARKS will broadcast live from the opera house with interviews and live musical guests throughout the weeklong broadcast at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Host Bill Richardson offers a Canadian spoof on Wagner’s The Ring, with five 5-minute episodes during the week of September 11-17 which will be heard on MUSIC AND COMPANY and SOUNDS LIKE CANADA.
CBC Radio Two’s popular drive home program DISCDRIVE and MUSIC AND COMPANY will feature The Ring quizzes throughout the week.
CBC Radio Two has developed a comprehensive website for the broadcast and programming. Complete broadcast details, updates and full background on The Ring can be found at
www.cbc.ca/thering.
