Pittsburgh’s Slimmed-Down Ring

Hot on the heels of the Chicago Lyric Opera’s Ring cycle, the Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh has announced plans to present a “streamlined” version of the massive Wagner cycle over the next two summers. The cut-down Ring, which was conceived by Jonathan Dove for the UK’s City of Birmingham Opera, features a chamber orchestra in the pit and minimal costumes and sets. Traditional Ring cycles cost millions to stage, and are considered out of the realm of possibility for all but the largest companies, but the Dove version is expected to cost no more than $250,000.