Robert Lepage is among the world's foremost theater and opera stage directors and his treatment of Wagner's tetralogy has been lauded as "the most ambitious production The Met has ever attempted", with three full Cycles on stage at the Lincoln Center between April 7 and May 12, 2012. Naturally, an innovative presentation adds excitement and texture to any opera, however artistic excellence is really the key ingredient that will determine the audience success of the venture. In this regard The Met has exceeded expectations with a truly outstanding roster of international Wagnerians in all the key roles. The third and last Cycle has been chosen specifically to fully capitalize on this strength, with Stephen Gould and Richard Paul Fink joining the cast and bringing their well-tested roles of Siegfried and Alberich to augment the powerful vocal skills of, among others, Bryn Terfel, Deborah Voigt, Jonas Kaufmann and Stephanie Blythe. The ultimate Wagner conductor Maestro James Levine leads the orchestra and singers in all three Cycles. The operas are spread over eight days and this allows time for enjoyment of the full dramatic Wagner experience, optional performances at The Met (Billy Budd and The Makropulos Case ) and other musical venues as well as selective group cultural events in the City. We are also privileged to have two notable Wagner educators, dramaturg Cori Ellison and international lecturer Desirée Mays, as part of our program to enrich appreciation of the masterwork.

The Empire Hotel has again been selected as the ideal base for the New York stay, offering prime location, excellent dining options and easy access to other areas of Manhattan. Superior queen rooms are reserved for singles and Deluxe rooms for double or twin occupancy. Junior suites are available on request. See www.empirehotelnyc.com for details.

An optional (with a minimum 12 registrants) New York Insider program of special activities is offered on three days during the week for those wishing to expand their horizons while in New York and these events are described in the itinerary below.

Friday May 4   -   Optional Early Arrival Day
Optional early arrival in New York, with a 6.00pm Desirée Mays Metropolitan Opera Guild pre-performance lecture on Billy Budd. Curtain at 7.30pm. Maestro David Robertson leads The Met Orchestra with Nathan Gunn in the title role and James Morris as Claggart.

Saturday May 5
Independent arrivals in New York and transfer to The Empire Hotel at 44 West 63rd St. Join Annie Sale and tour guests for dinner in the excellent nearby Picholine restaurant before leaving for the Lincoln Center and 8.30pm staging of Das Rheingold.

Sunday May 6
This morning opera lecturer and educator Desirée Mays will lead an interactive Ring Insights program, including themes from her Wagner lecture series. One afternoon option is a 3.00pm Carnegie Hall concert with veteran Italian piano virtuoso Maurizio Pollini (program to be announced) while at 4.00pm Desirée presents a Metropolitan Opera Guild lecture Ending the Ring.

Monday May 7
The day is open before gathering in the late afternoon for the 6.30pm performance of Die Walküre. This evening we will enjoy intermission dining together at the Grand Tier Restaurant.

Tuesday May 8
Our New York Insider program today offers an in depth visit to the Morgan Library & Museum, with lunch in the Morgan Dining Room and access to the McKim rooms (Mr. Pierpoint Morgan's library). Optional 6.00pm John Muller Guild lecture The Art of Transition in the Ring followed by Janácek's 1926 The Makropulos Case with Karita Mattila as Emilia Marty. Jiri Belohlávek conducts.

Thursday May 10
New York Insider this morning takes us to Greenwich Village for a historical and food tour that introduces some of the "hidden culinary treasures" of this atmospheric neighborhood, one of the oldest in Manhattan. The evening Met option is Britten's Billy Budd.

Friday May 11
The last segment of New York Insider is a morning visit, with lunch, to The Cloisters branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, located in Fort Tryon Park in the Upper West Side, overlooking the Hudson River. The Museum houses a highly significant collection of 12th to 15th century European works of art in galleries reconstructed from cloister elements recovered from medieval European abbeys. The Makropulos Case is again staged at the Lincoln Center this evening.

Saturday May 12
The Ring Cycle concludes today with the 11.00am performance of Götterdämmerung and this will be followed by our traditional post-performance reception at Rosa Mexicano with invited guests.

Sunday May 13
Independent departures.