21 Downbeat feat. Jens Friebe: »Der Ring«. Eine Pop-Oper nach Richard Wagner

»Der Ring des Nibelungen« is about the theft of a spectacular golden ring, also telling the tragedies big and small of mankind. Richard Wagner's opera cycle is truly monumental: with 130 performing musicians and a running time of nearly 20 hours, it exploded the paradigm upon its 1876 premiere. Admittedly, »Der Ring« drags on a bit. High time, then, to trim this thing down to the length of a contemporary concert. We're gonna put on the wind and fog machines, press fast-forward, plow through the lawns of the green hill and tell the complete four parts as a theatrical pop opera in 60 minutes. Joining the RambaZamba band 21 Downbeat this time will be Jens Friebe. Nobody combines high culture and pop culture and the global fates of the world as skillfully as he does. If you're not convinced, check out his excellent recent album, »Fuck Penetration.«