List $17.99

Written & narrated by Stephen Johnson - Audio-Original Recording - Nonfiction - 2 COMPACT DISCS - 2 hours, 39 minutes

Publisher, Naxos (February 2008)

Opera Explained presents the plots and music of major operas, communicating with enthusiasm the joys of a great art form.

Each title includes:

• Principal arias and choruses

• Background to the composer and his works

• Ideal preparation for a visit to the opera-house, and an entertaining revision afterwards

"If you feel you are forever standing outside the palace of opera, with your nose pressed against the window but uncertain how to find the front door, you could do a lot worse than pick up one or more of these entertaining and enthusiastic audio guides." --CLASSIC FM

"There is simply no better introduction to the intricacies and structure of opera than this series from Naxos..." --AD-LIB

Wagner's Ring cycle is the most ambitious work in the history of music: four operas that combine to tell a single epic story Based in legend, it has become a legend in its own right: a supreme challenge for conductors, singers, opera producers, and indeed for audiences. But for all its grandeur and complexity, The Ring is far more accessible than many music lovers think. This two-CD guide explains the basics of the plot, profiles the leading characters, and shows how Wagner's revolutionary music adds fascinating layers of meaning and psychological insight, as well as providing some of the most stirring and intoxicating moments in the entire operatic repertoire.