This is a big deal - the "preliminary evening of the Ring" in the new cycle for the Royal Opera House directed by Barrie Kosky, due to complete by 2027. Beautifully sung and played, and dramatically presented. A few odd quirks though. Erde (the "primal earth mother, goddess of earthly wisdom") was depicted by a naked, non-singing, 82 year old actress and model Rose Knox-Peebles who never left the stage, the singing part voiced offstage by Wiebke Lehmkuhl. I suppose the concept was that she was observing all, with the terrible knowledge of what was to come. The main set was a large model of the fallen world ash tree (from which Wotan had taken his staff), which served as the Rhein (eh? no water), the hall of the Gods, and the mines of the Nibelung. Liquid gold poured from it's knots, and the Rhein maidens tormented Alberich darting in and out of the branches. Poor Fricka was placed in a bath and had the liquid gold poured over her when measuring out the ransom for the giants! The rainbow bridge was a huge array of coloured confetti which swamped the stage at the end, and gave a very excited Loge (sung by Sean Panikkar) a playground in which to dance and whoop. I enjoyed it, despite occasional bafflement, and especially appreciated Christopher Purves evil personified portrayal of Alberich. A totally packed Covent Garden, which particularly appreciated a curtain call by the orchestra - Pappano brought them all to the stage at the end.