Sing Faster: The Stagehands’ Ring Cycle
An innovative documentary of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle opera from the point of view of the union stagehands at the San Francisco Opera.
Series
Premiere Date
September 1, 1999
Length
60 minutes
Funding Type
Awards & Recognition
Winner
1999 Sundance Film Festival - Filmmaker's Trophy, Documentary Competition
Nominee
1999 Sundance Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize
Nominee
2000 News and Documentary Emmy Awards - Outstanding Informational or Cultural Programming
With its four operas and 17-hour running time, staging Wagner's Ring Cycle is a daunting undertaking for any opera company. Sing Faster goes backstage at the San Francisco Opera to capture this rare event from a unique perspective: the stagehands' point of view. From Rhinemaidens, Valkyries and giant dragons, to poker games and smoke machines, these behind-the-scenes stars lead us through their own version of the operatic spectacle.