Greer Grimsley, an artist who was destined from birth to sing Wotan, took on the king of the gods for the first time in Seattle in 2005, and won Artist of the Year for his efforts. This cycle heard the final Loge of Peter Kazaras and Mime of Thomas Harper. Ewa Podles was a resplendent Erda, in a rare Wagner appearance. Robert Spano conducted the cycle for the first time.