Seattle Opera’s first
Ring was introduced over three seasons, beginning with the most popular of the four operas,
Die Walküre. The towering bass-baritone Noel Tyl sang the first of many Wotans in Seattle (with Archie Drake alternating in the English cast), and the great heldentenor Jess Thomas played his doomed Wälsung son, Siegmund.

Archie Drake (Wotan) in Wagner’s Die Walküre, 1973 © Des Gates

The Valkyries shield Brünnhilde from the wrath of Noel Tyl (Wotan) in Wagner’s Die Walküre, 1973 © Des Gates

Jess Thomas (Siegmund) and Bozena Ruk-Focic (Sieglinde) in Wagner’s Die Walküre, 1973

Noel Tyl (Wotan) and Anna Green (Brünnhilde) in Wagner’s Die Walküre, 1973 © Des Gates

Jess Thomas (Siegmund) and Bozena Ruk-Focic (Sieglinde) in Wagner’s Die Walküre, 1973 © Des Gates

Jess Thomas (Siegmund) in Wagner’s Die Walküre, 1973 © Des Gates