The Mariinsky Theatre's Ring Cycle is to receive its London premiere at the Royal Opera House this summer.
The production, which opened in St Petersburg in 2003 and visited Cardiff in 2006, has met a mixed reception on its extensive travels so far.
Some criticised 'Production Supervisor' (oh yus) Valery Gergiev for sporting one hat too many. "Bereft of ideas and dramatic interaction between the characters" was a typical response. Many found the soloists less than ideal: not all the Mariinsky singers are of the exemplary calibre we heard at last week's Barbican performances. Add to that Gergiev's notoriously hot-cold conducting and the results are unpredictable.
But still, as the Times puts it "Even a mediocre Ring is better than none at all".
Dates and ticket information to be announced soon.
all photos © Valentin Baranovsky 2007
