When Pacific Symphony’s Music Director Carl St.Clair planned out his 35th season, he knew staging Wagner’s Das Rheingold would be no small feat. It meant wrangling 15 opera singers, full costumes, props, and sets—on a symphony stage, no less. And then came the trickier part: getting OC audiences hyped about a niche German opera. The hook? A little Tolkien tie-in. Turns out Das Rheingold is based on the same myths that inspired The Lord of the Rings. Throw in St.Clair’s personal passion for the piece, and the result? Nearly three hours of drama, music, and myth—met with thunderous applause and glowing reviews like:
“Orange County strikes Rhine gold in Pacific Symphony’s beautiful ‘ring’.” – Classical Voice
“Carl St.Clair led the orchestra with a steady hand…he never lost sight of momentum — the music … remained lithe and supple… this was a skilled account.” – Culture OC
The Reveille team was thrilled to secure coverage in these outlets and many more!
