In the 1986 Ring production we used a live baby bear at the opening of Siegfried. We found out that bears love canned peaches, so after the bear comes on for the few moments he is onstage there were several places where he could eat peaches. Since that production was given four times, we had four baby bears. They all were about six months old. Number 3, in 1991, was the largest. He was about eight months old and seemed a bit more involved in the opera than his predecessors and successor. He added immeasurably to the performance by growling during the whole prelude, a prelude that is dark and is composed largely of music that refers to Mime, Fafner, and the hoard. The effect was perfect, and his growls and noises could just be heard by the audience in concert with the prelude.

--Speight Jenkins