Originally scheduled for 2020, but postponed twice due to the Covid pandemic, Richard Wagner’s masterpiece, first performed in 1876, will now finally open in the Lyric Theatre on December 1.

Recognised as the pinnacle of opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen, best known as The Ring Cycle, will be presented over four evenings, and this brand-new, cutting-edge reimagining will have ardent fans from around the world descend on Brisbane to experience it for themselves.

They call aficionados Ring Nuts and at a launch at QPAC Thursday Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan said bookings were already coming in from Europe, America and around the Asia Pacific region and all Australian states.

“It’s like the Mt Everest of opera but for Brisbane let’s call it the Olympics of opera,” Allan said. “It’s a huge undertaking, no wonder there are so few productions.” To continue the sporting analogy Queenslanders might consider it the State of Origin of opera.

It might seem a tad obscure to some, this Germanic masterpiece with its otherworldly Valkyries and stirring music but that music will be familiar as it entered popular culture through the film Apocalypse Now and anyone growing up watching Bugs Bunny cartoons will remember an episode dedicated to Wagner’s opera.

Allan said Opera Australia had assembled a company of 350 singers, dancers, musicians and creatives and while it’s led by the national company it’s also very much a Queensland affair.

It is being presented in partnership with the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, and in collaboration with QPAC, Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, Queensland Symphony Orchestra (which will supply the music) Opera Queensland and renowned Townsville company Dancenorth Australia.

QPAC chief executive John Kotzas said it had been a long time coming in more ways than one.

“It took Wagner 26 years to write it but it has taken Queensland 200 years to do it,” Kotzas said. “It will draw people from all over the world and this will be the first production of the Ring Cycle to have a digital set and an Asian director.”

Celebrated Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng, who divides his time between Shanghai and New York, is the man bringing the production to the QPAC stage. His directorial debut was the 2007 film Dark Matter starring Meryl Streep and among his other credits, in 2011 he directed High School Musical: China. He also directed Opera Australia’s critically acclaimed Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of Turandot.

He will use towering seven-metre-high moving LED screens to create a visually stunning landscape and a breathtakingly immersive and innovative version of the Ring Cycle unlike any ever seen before.

The Ring Cycle comprises four operas making up the whole – Das Rheingold, Die Walkure, Siegfried and Gotterdammerung all based on Norse mythology although this time Chinese mythology will be added to the mix.

The cast features internationally renowned German tenor Stefan Vinke in the lead role of Siegfried with Australian soprano Anna-Louise Cole and American soprano Lise Lindstrom will share the role of Brunnhilde with Brisbane tenor Rosario La Spina as Siegmund.

Broadway designer Anita Yavich has created the costumes including space age costumes for the Valkyries, those warrior women who carry the dead to Valhalla.

There will be three full cycles presented between December 1 to 21 and Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe expects it to be a huge cultural tourism attraction particularly as Opera Australia’s production of Verdi’s Aida will also be presented at QPAC filling in the gaps between performances of The Ring Cycle.

“The world-renowned reputation of The Ring Cycle has fans from all over the globe winging their way to Brisbane to see it,” Mr Hinchliffe said. “We know many who come for the opera will extend their stay and take the opportunity to experience the region and Queensland’s world-class tourism attractions. It will also provide a boost for local tourism businesses with visitors expected to stay 46,800 visitor nights and spend almost $16.5 million in the local economy.”

For locals this is a once in a lifetime opportunity – if you have 16 hours to spare.

Opera Australia presents THE RING CYCLE, Lyric Theatre, QPAC, December 1-21; qpac.com.au