God for the return home

The head of the Gods is a New Zealander, and he's returning home.

Best known for the role of Wotan the chief of the Gods in Wagner's Ring Cycle, a role which for many years he made his own around the great opera houses of the world, Sir Donald McIntyre (left) is returning to appear in Wagner's Parsifal in Wellington in March.

He's "looking forward to a swim at a Wellington beach," he says, and to joining a "knockout cast" which includes another accomplished New Zealander, tenor Simon O'Neill playing the title role, and Margaret Medlyn as Kundry.

"It's extraordinary that New Zealand has five singers in this cast," says McIntyre. "In the hands of Anthony Negus, it could be an absolute sensation."

I can't wait.

LINKS: Our knight at the opera - NZ Herald
Tenor Simon O'Neill's site
Festival announces Parsifal as the opera - Opera NZ blog
Parsifal - Wellington Arts Festival site

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