Deciding a year ago to present Das Rheingold was an act of courage for the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (DPAA). Performing arts organizations throughout the country were still reeling from the effects of the pandemic. How and what do you plan in such a time of uncertainty?  

Dayton Opera’s premiere of Das Rheingold is evidence of DPAA’s united belief that the arts are for everyone. Doesn’t our community deserve to see and hear this great masterwork live? I presented the idea of doing Das Rheingold in our artistic planning meetings last year. The answer was a resounding yes.  

The cornerstone of my vision for expanding the love of opera in our community is presenting an exciting program of offerings that connects to our community in many ways and exhibits the highest artistic presentation. Das Rheingold, the first piece in Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle (Der Ring des Nibelungen), an epic four-opera saga that revolutionized the opera world, certainly meets those criteria! Dayton Opera has not presented a fully staged opera by Wagner in over fifty years and has never presented Das Rheingold. We have a cast of extraordinary singers (and actors, as this piece demands they be both) who are second to none. Creating this fantastic world with our amazing team of designers has been one of my life's most fulfilling artistic experiences.  

Working on this production with Neal, whose musicianship I admire and whose friendship I cherish, has been a wonderful collaboration. Thank you for joining us to experience this remarkable piece live, being a part of Dayton Opera history, and envisioning its bright and exciting future.