I'm a self-confessed Wagner addict and Ring Nut (as we are often called). Sadly, I'm too young (and too poor) to have attended an actual performance, but I have seen two DVD versions (Levine's and Boulez', both available on amazon.com) and have listened repeatedly to five more cycles. The Ring of the Nibelung (German Der Ring des Nibelungen) has been called many things, from the most monumental work of art ever created, to the most colossally boring thing in existence. At its shortest, it's 13 hours long, and requires you to absolutely immerse yourself into it; the struggle between love versus power being center stage, with other conflicts between gods, heroes, dwarves, giants, and plain old human beings added to the mix. This fantastic story is told by way of some of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching music ever composed, coupled with many, many dramatic scenes that put many modern movies to shame (the end, for example, features a fire that sets Valhalla, the castle of the gods, and the world below alight, which is then followed by a flood. Onstage, of course.) All that said, the Ring isn't for everyone. It demands much of the listener, and you won't come out of your first Ring Cycle unchanged. I've heard the addiction that typically comes after compared to that of a drug addict's: always looking for the next fix, and the next, and the next. If you do decide to immerse yourself in all of this (and I think pretty much everyone should at least try), don't say you weren't warned. Now, technical stuff: if you're interested in learning more, get yourself a Ring Cycle--some are cheaper than $50 these days. Das Rheingold, the first of the four parts of the Ring, is universally regarded as the most boring (because of lots of exposition), so I'd suggest starting with the insanely beautiful and lyrical Die Walkure (The Valkyrie) to see if it hooks you. Best of luck to you. Hojotoho!

Wagner's music is not for everyone. Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) is a fantastic work of art in a cycle of four epic music dramas. The operas are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied. The works are often referred to as "The Ring Cycle", "Wagner's Ring", or simply "The Ring". Wagner wrote the libretto and music over the course of about twenty-six years, from 1848 to 1874. The four operas that constitute the Ring cycle are, in the order of the imagined events they portray: Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold) Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) Siegfried Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) Although individual operas are performed as works in their own right, a full understanding of the story of the Ring cycle requires attendance at all four operas, which was the intention and expectation of the composer. Best Regards.

I've read about the story and like Ride of the Valkyries, but I've never been to see it performed.

Many years ago, on PBS, they had a special showing of the whole thing over many nights. It was the very first time in years that it even had been performed in it's entirety. My husband and I were completely enthralled!!! I wish we had thought to record it on our VCR. I've never forgotten it I loved it so much.