In September, 2010, the Metropolitan Opera in New York premiered their new production of Wagner's four-opera epic, "Der Ring Des Nibelungen" -- composed over 26 years, between 1848 and 1874, and first performed as a complete "cycle" in 1876.

Five years in the making itself, this new, Met production featured the conceit of a single set for all four operas -- a set designed to reconfigure itself mechanically in real time, and enhanced with digitally produced projections which actually responded to the motions and voices of the singers!  The first two operas ("Das Rheingold" and "Die Walküre") premiered in their 2010-2011 season.  The last two operas ("Siegfried" and "Götterdämmerung") premiered in their 2011-2012 season.  And the complete cycle of all 4 was presented in their 2012-2013 season.

The Met also does HD simulcasts of many of its live performances to movie theaters all across the country.  This disc records the HD simulcast of their October 8, 2011, performance.

And it's a real treat!