The idealist Rienzi, tribune of the people, reaches out to the predatory nobles.

WSJ: Richard Wagner's 'Orphans' | By Matthew Gurewitsch

With "Rienzi, " completed when Wagner was 27 and produced two years later, Wagner had the breakthrough he had long dreamt of.

WSJ: Richard Wagner's 'Orphans' | By Matthew Gurewitsch

Mr. KOSSA-RIENZI: Well, the biggest thing is that it uses a lot of energy and natural resources just to get it to us.

NPR: At Chez Panisse, It's Time for Tap Water

Joining us is Mike Kossa-Rienzi, who's general manager of Chez Panisse.

NPR: At Chez Panisse, It's Time for Tap Water

Mr. KOSSA-RIENZI: We took off the bottled still water last summer.

NPR: At Chez Panisse, It's Time for Tap Water

"Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen" ("Rienzi, Last of the Tribunes, " 1840), after a novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, takes up the epic mode of French grand opera.

WSJ: Richard Wagner's 'Orphans' | By Matthew Gurewitsch

Mr. KOSSA-RIENZI: What we're intending to do with this whole program is carbonate our own local tap water and then serve it to the guests at no charge.

NPR: At Chez Panisse, It's Time for Tap Water

Mr. MIKE KOSSA-RIENZI (General Manager, Chez Panisse): Hi.

NPR: At Chez Panisse, It's Time for Tap Water

Mr. KOSSA-RIENZI: Well, we were using a brand called Santo Lucia, which has -the bubbles are relatively soft, and what we've found with some of the local ones, such as, say, Calistoga, they're pretty heavily carbonated.

NPR: At Chez Panisse, It's Time for Tap Water

Mr. KOSSA-RIENZI: Yes, we have a carbonator.

NPR: At Chez Panisse, It's Time for Tap Water

Mr. KOSSA-RIENZI: It's a great advertising pitch.

NPR: At Chez Panisse, It's Time for Tap Water