The Ring of the Nibelung

On September 26, 2021, not only did “Das Rheingold” and “Die Walküre” premiere in Hall II, but the exhibition about this Ring cycle also opened. I had the privilege of conceptualizing and designing the exhibition and bringing it to life together with the team at the Cologne Opera. The exhibition serves several purposes.

1. It documents that the Cologne Opera, under the artistic direction of Dr. Birgit Meyer, has made significant investments in children’s opera.

2. It shows how the stage and musical versions are structured and what the underlying concept for direction and set design is.

3. It illustrates the artistic development process of the four productions.

4. It shows how theater works, from the initial idea through to its realization, at every stage.

5. It showcases the work of the wonderful departments at Bühnen Köln

6. Last but not least, it is also a sign of appreciation for the departments whose work is made transparent.

Every single object in the exhibition tells a story in its own right, but each one also showcases the exceptional technical, artisanal, and artistic quality of the craftspeople at Bühnen Köln; every single evening of the tetralogy speaks to the great care, attention, and professionalism at every level!

Photos: Paul Leclaire

Set design visualizations in the exhibition: Christopher Gruber

Costume illustrations in the exhibition: Andrea Költringer

Model Making: Alice Dal Bello and Alexander Harvey