FIRST OFF . . .

The iconoclastic Russian-born director Yuri Lyubimov has quit his production of Wagner’s mammoth “Ring des Nibelungen” cycle at London’s Royal Opera House after several disputes with the production’s conductor, Bernard Haitink. Jeremy Isaacs, general director of the opera house, confirmed Sunday that Lyubimov had been released from his contract, citing “intellectual differences in artistic interpretation” between firebrand Lyubimov and Haitink. According to British press accounts, Lyubimov and Haitink argued interminably during rehearsals earlier this year over the staging of the first part of the cycle, “Das Rheingold.” Although performances of that opera were acclaimed by critics and were completely sold out, the design and direction of “Die Walkure,” the “Ring” cycle’s second installment, were the subject of the final disagreements between director and conductor. Lyubimov--whose theater productions in Moscow often ran into trouble with Communist Party officials--will be replaced by West German director Gotz Friedrich, said Isaacs. Friedrich staged the “The Ring” at Covent Garden in 1974-1976. His current production of the cycle, first staged in Berlin in October, 1985, will be presented by Deutsche Oper in two complete performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington in June.