The Power of the Ring – ready for delivery

From Bayreuth to pop culture – Accentus Music’s documentary explores why Wagner's Ring has captivated and divided audiences for nearly 150 years.

Few works match the sheer ambition of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung – a cycle of four music dramas, nearly 16 hours in total, that has stood at the centre of musical, political and cultural debate since its Bayreuth premiere in 1876. Nearly 150 years on, the Ring remains as contested and captivating as ever: a cornerstone of the operatic canon, and a surprisingly persistent presence in film, comics, and popular music.

A new documentary directed by Andy Sommer traces the work's creation, its reception across vastly different historical moments, and the restless urge of each generation to reimagine it anew. Landmark productions – from Chéreau's revolutionary Jahrhundertring to recent stagings by Valentin Schwarz, Barrie Kosky and Andreas Homoki – serve as reference points, while interviews with Simone Young, Tomasz Konieczny, Camilla Nylund, and philosopher Slavoj Žižek illuminate Wagner's genius, his controversies, and his remarkable staying power.

Guided by the fictional figure of Brünnhilde as narrator, and enriched by animated sequences from artist Luc Perez, “The Power of the Ring” makes one of music's greatest monuments vivid, accessible, and urgently alive.

The Power of the Ring – 150 Years of "The Ring of the Nibelung"

Duration: 56 minutes
Completion: June 2026

A 4K UHD production of Accentus Music
In Coproduction with WDR
In Cooperation with ARTE