I am puzzled by Mike Leghorn's response to my question about performing the
"Ring" out of town, similarly to the Berlin Staatsoper's upcoming cycles in
Japan.  He mentioned the Lyric and the Met, but not where they'd take the
"Ring" on the road.

The only other actual road-show performances I know of is by another Berlin
company, the Deutsche Oper going to Washington, D.C.  a dozen years ago.
I think the idea of a traveling "Ring" (sets, orchestra, cast - including
covers!) is rather overwhelming.

One of the Staatsoper's managers in charge of singer replacements is
a friend of mine and this otherwise eminently sanguine young lady is
a nervous wreck contemplating chances of finding a last-minute Siegmund
in Yokohama.  In Europe, it's no problem:  in just one weekend during my
Berlin stay last month, she found six replacements, all within a couple
of hours of travel time.  Until the Concorde arrives in Japan, jet-setting
star covers may be an actual problem there.

Janos Gereben/SF
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