Richard Wagner’s Ring cycle has always been a touchstone as to whether an opera company can be considered in the big leagues. For many years in this country the Metropolitan Opera was one of the very few companies presenting the cycle, and it was not until recently that other companies have begun cycles of their own. These productions have coincided with a surprising popularity of the cycle itself, with performances in whatever locale becoming worldwide sales events, with Wagnerians trekking from the shrine at Bayreuth to Paris, London, San Francisco, Adelaide, or Helsinki. Rumor is that Los Angeles, which has never produced a cycle, will join the club, coincident with Placido Domingo’s taking over of the company.

The Seattle Opera Company~dash\surprisingly—has had a large hand in this phenomenon. Long before “Ring Madness” set in, its General Director Glynn Ross, who adored the works, scheduled perform ...

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