JOANNA CROOKS,
Sir, - Brian McLaughlin conveys the heightened sense of anticipation and excitement as the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland prepares for its performance of Richard Wagner's epic operatic cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen over four nights - August 5th, 6th, 8th and 10th - in University Concert Hall, Limerick, followed by a second cycle in Symphony Hall, Birmingham (Mid-West report, June 29th).
The concert performances (not staged) offer audiences in Ireland for the first time since 1913 a chance to hear this operatic masterpiece in its original form, sung in German with surtitles.
The Irish Times archive throws some light on that earlier Ring performance, which incidentally was sung in English, with tickets priced from six to 15 shillings. A great sense of excitement and anticipation is evident in letters to the editor between February and May 1913.
To avoid confusion in 2002, may I confirm that the conductor emeritus of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Alexander Anissimov, will conduct both cycles, first in Limerick, and then in Birmingham on August 12th, 13th, 16th, and 18th. (The final sentence of your report said Sir Simon Rattle would conduct the Birmingham performances). - Yours, etc.,
JOANNA CROOKS, General manager, National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.