Wagner's Ring Cycle
The COC's first performances in the new opera house were of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, with designs by Michael Levine and 4 different directors: Michael Levine (Das Rheingold), Atom Egoyan (Die Walküre), François Girard (Siegfried), and Tim Albery (Götterdämmerung). In 2006 Bradshaw's contract, as general director, was renewed for another 10 years. Bradshaw died of sudden heart attack on August 15, 2007.
In June 2008, Alexander Neef was named the COC's general director; he formally assumed the position in October 2008. In October 2008, Johannes Debus made his debut with COC as a conductor in a production of Prokofiev's War and Peace, where he earned critical acclaim. In January 2009, the COC announced the appointment of Johannes Debus as the company's music director. Pianist and vocal coach Sandra Horst currently serves as the company's chorus master.
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