THERE could hardly have been a better way to end the Sage’s classical season than with a performance of the last part of Wagner’s Ring cycle which was, quite simply, magnificent.

Superlatives will abound here as it must be one of the longest operas and the orchestra among the biggest assembled in Hall 1.

In fact its four and a half hours (six and a half with intervals) never dragged and all of the 150 odd musicians and singers were necessary to achieve the opera’s impact.

It was again presented in a semistaged fashion with the orchestra on a stage extended well into the stalls and only a small strip in front for the singers. The choir had to be fitted into the circle to the right and left of the stage.

Sung in German, it had an English translation projected on to three large screens together with Peter Mumford’s elemental images, making it easy to follow this complicated plot and love story.

Space precludes mention of all the singers who were well chosen and authoritative. The principals were outstanding: Mati Turi as Siegfried, Eric Greene (Gunther), Mats Almgren (Hagen), Orla Boylan (Gutrune) and especially Alwyn Mellor as Brünnhilde.

But, as consistently good as the singers and the choir were, it was the magnificent orchestra which drove the story on with incredibly moving and stirring preludes and remarkably sensitive backing.

Conductor Richard Farnes guided them (and the singers) quite brilliantly, from the softest hushed sounds of the strings to the moving and thrilling brass.

Both touching and exciting, it drew a wonderful response from the audience, most of whom have followed the cycle since it began here in 2011.

It’s wonderful to learn that the complete cycle may appear in 2016.

Peter Bevan