19.05.2026

GEORG NIGL takes on the role of Alberich for the first time in Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung

The Austrian baritone Georg Nigl is taking on one of the central character roles in Wagner’s oeuvre for the first time at the Vienna State Opera: Alberich in "The Ring of the Nibelung". In the revival of Sven-Eric Bechtolf’s production, Nigl will portray the character in all three parts – in Das Rheingold, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung. Pablo Heras-Casado will be conducting.

With this role, Nigl is entering new territory in his career. Although he has previously tackled the multi-faceted Nibelung, it has so far been exclusively in concert performances: under the baton of Simon Rattle, he sang Alberich in “Siegfried” in Munich. The reviews highlighted his nuanced interpretation – describing him, for instance, as a “cunning, devious Alberich with immensely agile phrasing”.

It is precisely this complexity that is guaranteed to come to the fore in Vienna as well. Nigl, who has never confined himself to a single role type and whose repertoire ranges from Baroque to modern, brings the ideal qualities to the role of this power-obsessed yet deeply wounded outsider. In the comparatively psychologically oriented Bechtolf production, his approach is likely to reveal new facets of the character.

Thus, the revival promises not only a reunion with an established Viennese “Ring”, but also a new perspective on Alberich – as a complex character study that gains further depth with Nigl’s debut.

We wish you a huge TOITOITOI!