BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- "Das Rheingold," the first part of Richard Wagner's tetralogy "Der Ring des Nibelungen," will grace the stage at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3.

Based on Scandinavian and Nordic myths, this two-and-a-half-hour opera is the shortest of the four works in "Der Ring des Nibelungen," but it features the largest cast of characters.

As an important work in Wagner's later oeuvre, "Der Ring des Nibelungen" represents the pinnacle of his artistic career. The composition began in 1848 and was completed in 1874, taking 26 years to create.

This round of performances will be conducted by music director Lyu Jia, with director Stefano Poda leading the creative team.