Editing Seattle Opera (section)

====''Ring'' 1, 1975–1984====
Beginning with a production of ''[[Die Walküre]]'' one year, and following successively each year with ''[[Siegfried (opera)|Siegfried]]'' and, finally, ''[[Götterdämmerung]]'', Ross announced in 1975 that ''[[Das Rheingold]]'' would precede the others to make up the first consecutive ''Ring'' cycle over six days in July. In spite of the modernization of the opera productions which Ross found at the [[Bayreuth Festival]], Seattle's were to be traditional productions and appeal to the lovers of the traditional.

Two back-to-back cycles of the ''Ring'', one each in German and English, were presented annually between 1975 and 1983. [[Andrew Porter (music critic)|Andrew Porter]]'s English adaptation which was prepared for the [[English National Opera]] and which was priced below the German language cycle, introduced many new listeners to Wagner. Originally directed by [[George London (bass-baritone)|George London]] with designer John Naccarato, later presentations were directed by Lincoln Clark between 1976 and 1983, and by the tenor, [[Ragnar Ulfung]] in 1984. Henry Holt conducted all the cycles. The performances were well attended and received good press.

By 1982, the cycle was drawing opera lovers from all over the United States, as well as many other countries of the world, and Seattle appeared to be a serious rival to Bayreuth.