From the late 1980s a backlash against the tendency towards ever more outlandish interpretations of the "Ring" cycle led to several new productions in the more traditional manner. Otto Schenk's staging of "Das Rheingold", first seen at the New York Met in 1987 and forming the prelude to his full "Ring" cycle two years later, was described by "The New York Times" as "charmingly old fashioned", and as "a relief to many beleaguered Wagnerites". James Morris, who sang Wotan in the 1987 production, and James Levine, the original conductor, both returned in 2009 when Schenk brought his "Ring" cycle back to the Met for a final performance.