St Barnabas Centenary Opera Festival
Wagner : The Ring of the Nibelung
Thursday August 18th to Sunday August 21st 2016
St Barnabas Hall, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, W5 1QG
This is a rare opportunity to see the entire Ring cycle on successive days, in a glorious 4-day opera festival to commemorate the Centenary of St Barnabas Church. It is the only fully staged performance of the Ring in London this year ! We will be viewing the fabulous production from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, in 1989-1990, with the amazing Met orchestra conducted by James Levine, in stunning sound and vision. We have high-quality video projection facilities, to match the quality of this outstanding recording. It is the best version available, featuring wonderful singing, fabulous orchestral playing and traditional sets which Wagner would have recognized – a huge advantage over some more recent productions.
Admission is £10 per opera. No tickets will be issued beforehand and admission is guaranteed, so just turn up. A delicious supper will be served on Thursday from 6 pm onwards, before the first opera (Rheingold) and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Act 1 of the opera, and drinks and light refreshments will be served between Act 2 and Act 3.
This will be a thrilling experience for all Wagner fans, and we hope to initiate many more opera lovers to the glories of Wagner, and his Ring cycle ! On the preceding Sunday, Robin Duval will give an illustrated introductory lecture, explaining the story and describing the leitmotifs. Come along, and tell your friends ! All proceeds go to St Barnabas Church Funds.
Sunday 14th August – Introduction to the Ring 7.00 pm
‘ The Ring of the Nibelung – what’s it all about ?’ – Robin Duval.
This illustrated lecture will set the scene, explain the story, highlight some leitmotivs,
and introduce new-comers to the wonders of the Ring Cycle .
Thursday 18th August – Das Rheingold 7.00- 9.45 pm
(Supper served from 6.00 onwards)
Friday 19th August – Die Walkure 5.30 pm – 10.10 pm
5.30 Act 1
6.40 Supper
7.05 Act 2 100 mins
8.45 Interval drinks
9.00 Act 3
10.10 Finish.
Saturday 20th August – Siegfried 5.30-10.25 pm
5.30 Act 1 85 mins
7.00 Supper
7.25 Act 2 80 mins
8.45 Drinks interval
9.00 Act 3 85 mins
10.25 Finish
Sunday 21st August – Gotterdammerung 5.00 – 10.20 pm
5.00 Act 1 125 mins
7.10 Supper
7.35 Act 2 65 mins
8.40 Drinks interval
8.55 Act 3 85 mins
10.20 Finish
Location : St Barnabas church is on the corner of Pitshanger Lane and Denison Road, in North Ealing. Its postcode is W5 1QG. Parking is always available on neighbouring streets, and there are no meters or residential parking schemes. The nearest tube stations are Ealing Broadway (on the Central and District Lines) and Hanger Lane (on the Central Line). From Ealing Broadway, use the E2 or E9 bus services. Taxis are also available outside Ealing Broadway tube station. The church is a 15 minute walk along Brunswick Road from Hanger Lane tube.
