Additional information
by Roz Goldfarb (Author)
Benjamin's Ring tells the enduring story of Richard Wagner's four opera cycle, The Ring of the Nibelung. This is a timeless story of mystery, fantasy and myth as it is seen through Benjamin's eyes and written for today's young readers who enjoy action and adventure tales. The characters in The Ring (as the cycle is known) include the heavenly world of Nordic Gods, an underworld of evil dwarfs, mortals, a magic sword, a supernatural ring that carries a death curse, mysterious fire, giants, dragons and the eternal battle between good and evil. Utilizing many of Wagner's original stage directions and his libretto, Ben's mother narrates the story and answers Ben's questions. She also explains why Wagner's music is world famous and how opera can be a total theatrical experience for people of any age.
Here's what opera stars Deborah Voigt and Michelle DeYoung wrote about Benjamin's Ring "I found Benjamin's Ring to be an engaging and charming re-telling of Wagner's Ring Cycle libretto." Deborah Voigt, International Operatic Soprano "Benjamin's Ring is a wonderful introduction into the world of Wagner's Ring cycle. It is entertaining and informative. I would recommend it for kids that enjoy fantastical stories, but also for anyone preparing to see the Ring for the first time. The illustrations by Geoffrey Moss are beautiful, and the perfect accompaniment to the story". Michelle DeYoung, 3 Time Grammy Award Winning Classical and Operatic Mezzo-SopranoAuthor Biography
ROZ GOLDFARB, living on New York's upper west side, is an author / educator / photographer / entrepreneur / sculptor and opera lover. Roz's mother, who studied to be an opera singer, took her to the Metropolitan Opera when she was nine years old to see "Hansel and Gretel". Roz has been going to the opera ever since. By the time she was twelve her favorite opera was "Aida", the story of an Egyptian princess. As a young adult, with little money to spend, she would buy standing room tickets, which meant standing through long operas in the back of the orchestra. Today she is thrilled to have a ticket for a good seat at the opera as well as going to the wonderful HD broadcasts in movie theaters. Roz has attended many Ring Cycles, including those in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle and heard other operas by Wagner in Bayreuth. Holding an MFA in sculpture from Pratt Institute where she developed educational programs and was the Director of the Pratt Associate Degree Programs, she has lectured at colleges throughout the United States and many professional organizations, wrote Careers by Design: A Business Guide for Graphic Designers (Allworth Press, 3rd edition 2002 and Windsor Books, London 2002) and numerous articles. In 1985 she founded Roz Goldfarb Associates, a recruitment firm specializing in design and branding, affecting the lives of a generation of designers. GEOFFREY MOSS is a New York painter / political satirist /children's book author / conceptual illustrator / set designer / photographer / teacher. The nationally syndicated creator of MOSSPRINTS, "an artist's take on politics", his captionless graphic column, has earned Moss three Pulitzer Prize nominations, two from The Washington Post for Watergate, and one from Creators Syndicate and the Newseum for 9/11. His work is represented through galleries, museums and corporate collections. He holds degrees from The University of Vermont (B.A., Distinguished Alumnus) and Yale School of Art and Architecture (B.F.A., M.F.A.).
