Though scarcely a household name, Pietari Inkinen has been around, leading symphony orchestras and opera companies from Finland to New Zealand by way of Tokyo and Berlin. A Renaissance man, he has also won prizes as a violinist and has directed the occasional play. As of last year, Inkinen officiates as chief conductor of the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie. But his big news, just out, is that the Bayreuth Festival has entrusted him with next summer’s new production of Richard Wagner’s marathon Ring des Nibelungen. Which moves his Tristan in the Antipodes onto the radar of every Wagnerite on the planet. For a sneak peek of his Ring, check out Inkinen’s first recording with his German home team, an abridged third act of Siegfried (third of four operas in the cycle), release date August 9, on the SWR label. —M.G.

Performances take place on October 28 and October 31, 2020.