In December, Zambello said that she and WNO general director Plšcido Domingo had conceived her production as an "American Ring," with imagery drawn from the "American history, mythology, iconography, and landscape." In costumes sketches, the goddess Erda is depicted as a Native American woman; Wotan wears a stylish, sharp-creased suit and an eye patch.
The cast includes Robert Hale as Wotan, Robin Leggate as Loge, Gordon Hawkins as Alberich, Elizabeth Bishop as Fricka, and Elena Zaremba as Erda. WNO music director Heinz Fricke is the conductor.
Das Rheingold runs through April 14. The cycle will continue next season with a production of Die Walk‹re starring Domingo.