Operas by Richard Wagner

Die Hochzeit (1832) Die Feen (1833) Das Liebesverbot (1836) Rienzi (1840) Der fliegende Holländer (1843) Tannhäuser (1845) Lohengrin (1848) Der Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold (1854) Der Ring des Nibelungen: Die Walküre (1856) Tristan und Isolde (1859) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1867) Der Ring des Nibelungen: Siegfried (1871) Der Ring des Nibelungen: Götterdämmerung (1874) Parsifal (1882) This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Die Hochzeit (The Wedding) is an unfinished opera by Richard Wagner. ... // History Die Feen (The Fairies) is one of Richard Wagners earlier operas. ... Das Liebesverbot (The Ban on Love) is an early opera by Richard Wagner. ... Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen (Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes) is an early opera by Richard Wagner in five acts, with the libretto written by the composer after Bulwer-Lyttons novel of the same name. ... The Flying Dutchman (German title: Der fliegende Holländer) is an opera, music and libretto by Richard Wagner. ... Tannhäuser or Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf die Wartburg (Tannhäuser and the Singers Contest on the Wartburg) is an opera in three acts, music and text by Richard Wagner, based on the two Germanic legends of Tannhäuser and the song contest at Wartburg. ... Lohengrin is a romantic opera (or music drama) in three acts by Richard Wagner. ... This article is about the series of operas; for the film, see Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King. ... This article is about the series of operas; for the film, see Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King. ... Die Walküre (The Valkyrie) is the second of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner. ... Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde) is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Strassburg, which in turn was based on the story of Tristan and Isolde as told in French by Thomas of... Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Master Singers of Nuremberg) is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. ... This article is about the series of operas; for the film, see Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King. ... Siegfried is the third of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner. ... This article is about the series of operas; for the film, see Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King. ...   (Twilight of the Gods – see Notes) is the last of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner. ... Parsifal is a music drama in three acts by Richard Wagner. ...

For the famous train, see Rheingold Express. For the beer, see Rheingold Beer. For the Grave Digger-album, see Rheingold

Das Rheingold ("The Rhine Gold") is the first of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner. It received its premiere at the National Theatre in Munich on 22 September 1869, with August Kindermann in the role of Wotan, Heinrich Vogl as Loge, and Wilhelm Fischer as Alberich. The legendary Rheingold-Express (Rhine Gold) was a famous train riding between Hoek van Holland near Rotterdam and Basel, Switzerland, a distance of 662 km. ... Overview Rheingold Beer was a New York beer that held 35 percent of the states beer market from 1950 to 1960. ... Rheingold is a concept album by German band Grave Digger, based on Richard Wagners The Ring of the Nibelung. ... This article is about the series of operas; for the film, see Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King. ... Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... For other meanings of Odin and Wotan see Odin (disambiguation) Odin (Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden) is usually considered the supreme god of Germanic and Norse mythology. ... Loge can refer to: Loge, an invented Germanized name for the god Loki in the operas Das Rheingold and Die Walküre by Richard Wagner and in works derived from them and in commentary on them. ... Alberich was a legendary sorcerer originating in the mythos of the Frankish Merovingian Dynasty. ...

Roles

Hans Richter (1843–1916), Austrian conductor (born in what is now Hungary), studied at the Vienna Conservatory (showing a special interest in the horn) and developed his conducting career at several opera-houses in the Austro-Hungarian empire. ... A bass-baritone is a singing voice that shares certain qualities of both the baritone and the bass. ... In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice. ... A mezzo-soprano (meaning medium soprano in Italian) is a female singer with a range usually extending from the A below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C. Mezzo-sopranos generally have a darker (or lower) vocal tone than sopranos, and their vocal range is between that... Look up soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Eugen Gura (1842 – August 26, 1906) was a German operatic baritone. ... Franz Nachbaur (1835 - 1902) was a famous German opera singer. ... In music, an alto is a singer with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a soprano. ... Karl Fischer may be: Karl Fischer (chemist) (1901-1958), German originator of Karl Fischer titration Karl Fischer (actor) (1917-1993), Austrian Karl Fischer (soldier) (fl. ... Lilli Lehmann (1848-1929) was a German operatic soprano. ...

Plot synopsis

Scene 1

The Rhinemaidens and Alberich

Das Rheingold begins with a 136-bar unmodulating prelude based on the chord of E flat major that is meant to represent the eternal unchanging motions of the River Rhine. It is considered the best known drone piece in the concert repertory, lasting approximately four minutes ^[1]. It was claimed by Wagner in his autobiography Mein Leben ^[2] that the musical idea came to him while he was half asleep in a hotel in La Spezia in Italy, but this has been disputed by Deathridge and others ^[3]. The music grows in power, and the curtain rises. At the bottom of the River Rhine, the three Rhinemaidens (Woglinde, Wellgunde, and Flosshilde) are playing together. Alberich, a Nibelung dwarf, appears from a deep chasm and tries to woo them. Struck by his ugliness, the Rhinemaidens mock his advances, and Alberich grows angry. He notices a golden glow coming from a nearby rock, and asks what it is. The Rhinemaidens tell him about the Rhinegold, which their father has ordered them to guard: anyone who first renounces love can make out of it a magic Ring, which will let its bearer rule the World. They think they have nothing to fear from the lustful dwarf, but Alberich has been embittered by their mockery. Cursing love, he seizes the gold and returns to the depths, as the Rhinemaidens flee in despair. Download high resolution version (600x870, 124 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (600x870, 124 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... A prelude is a short piece of music, usually in no particular internal form, which may serve as an introduction to succeeding movements of a work that are usually longer and more complex. ... The River Rhine (Dutch: ; French: ; German: ; Italian: ; Romansh: ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe at 1,320 kilometres (820 miles), with an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second. ... In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout much or all of a piece, sustained or repeated, and most often establishing a tonality upon which the rest of the piece is built. ... La Spezia (Spèsa in the local dialect of Ligurian) is a city in the Liguria region of northern Italy, at the head of La Spezia Gulf, and capital city of the province of La Spezia. ... John Deathridge (born in Birmingham, 21 October 1944) is an English musicologist, regarded as one of the worlds foremost Wagner experts. ... The Rhinemaidens The Rhinemaidens (de: Rheintöchter) are protagonists in the four-part Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner. ... A reference from the PS2 game series Xenosaga. Length:1000m Built by Vector Industries and loaned to the Federation Marine Corp, it was the first battleship specifically built to combat Gnosis. ... Alberich was a legendary sorcerer originating in the mythos of the Frankish Merovingian Dynasty. ... German Nibelung and the corresponding Old Norse form Niflung (Niflungr) refers in most of the German texts and in all the Old Norse texts to the royal family or lineage of the Burgundians who settled at Worms. ... Men hur kommer man in i berget, frågade tomtepojken (But how do I get into the mountain? the young dwarf asked. ... In Norse mythology, Andvarinaut was a magical ring, first owned by Andvari. ...

Scene 2

The giants seize Freia

Wotan, ruler of the Gods, is asleep on a mountaintop with Fricka, his wife. Fricka awakes and sees a magnificent castle behind them. She wakes Wotan and points out that their new home has been completed. The giants built the castle on behalf of Wotan, and in exchange Wotan has offered them Freia, the goddess of love. Fricka is worried for her sister, but Wotan is confident that they will not have to give Freia away. Download high resolution version (600x761, 116 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (600x761, 116 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... For other meanings of Odin and Wotan see Odin (disambiguation) Odin (Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden) is usually considered the supreme god of Germanic and Norse mythology. ... Frigg spinning the clouds In Norse mythology, Frigg (Eddas) or Frigga (Gesta Danorum) was said to be foremost among the goddesses, 1 the wife of Odin, queen of the Æsir, and goddess of the sky. ... Freya, in an illustration to Wagners operas by Arthur Rackham. ...

Freia enters, terrified, followed by the giants Fasolt and Fafner. Fasolt demands payment for their finished work. He points out that Wotan's rule is sustained by the treaties carved into his Spear, one of which is his contract with the giants. Donner (god of thunder) and Froh (god of spring) arrive to defend their sister, but Wotan stops them: he cannot stop the giants by force and renege on their agreement. Fáfnir guards the gold hoard in this illustration by Arthur Rackham to Richard Wagners Siegfried. ... Thors battle against the giants, by Mårten Eskil Winge, 1872 Thor (Old Norse: Þórr) is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder in Norse Mythology and more generally Germanic mythology (Old English: Þunor, Old Dutch and Old High German: Donar, from Proto-Germanic *Þunraz). ... This 19th century representation of Freyr shows him with his boar Gullinbursti and his sword. ...

To Wotan's relief, Loge (the fire god) makes his entrance; Wotan has been placing his hopes on Loge's cunning finding a way out of the bargain. Loge tells them that Alberich the dwarf has stolen the Rheingold, and made a powerful magic Ring out of it. Wotan, Fricka, and the giants all begin to lust after the Ring, and Loge curtly suggests the best method of acquiring it: "Durch Raub!" (en. "Through theft!") Fafner demands it as payment instead of Freia. The giants depart, taking Freia with them as hostage. Loge can refer to: Loge, an invented Germanized name for the god Loki in the operas Das Rheingold and Die Walküre by Richard Wagner and in works derived from them and in commentary on them. ...

Freia's golden apples had kept the Gods eternally young; with her absence, they begin to age and weaken. In order to win Freia back, Wotan is forced to follow Loge down into the earth, in pursuit of the Ring. // The Golden apple is an element that appears in some countries legends or fairy tales. ...

At this point there is an orchestral interlude that "paints" the descent of Loge and Wotan into Nibelheim. One of the most striking features of the interlude is when the orchestra fades out and gives way to a choir of 18 tuned anvils (indicated in the score with specific size, quantity and pitch), beating out the dotted rhythm of the Nibelung theme to starkly depict the toiling of the enslaved dwarves. If you want the band called Anvil, please go to Anvil (band) A blacksmith working iron with a hammer and anvil An anvil is a manufacturing tool, made of a hard and massive block of stone or metal used as a support for chiseling and hammering other objects, such as...

Alberich and the subjugated Nibelung dwarfs

Download high resolution version (600x933, 126 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (600x933, 126 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Scene 3

In Nibelheim, Alberich has enslaved the rest of the Nibelung dwarves. He has forced his brother Mime, the most skilful smith, to create a magic helmet, the Tarnhelm. Alberich demonstrates the Tarnhelm's power by making himself invisible, the better to torment his subjects. Mimir was a primal god of Norse mythology whose head was severed and sent to Odin during the war between the Aesir and the Vanir deities. ... A magic helmet in Richard Wagners Der Ring des Nibelungen. ...

Wotan and Loge arrive and happen upon Mime, who tells them about Alberich's forging of the Ring and the misery of the Nibelung under his rule. Alberich returns, driving his slaves to pile up a huge mound of gold. When they have finished, he dismisses them and turns his attention to the two visitors. He boasts to them about his plans to rule the World. Loge tricks him into demonstrating the magic of the Tarnhelm by having him transform into a snake (or dragon - the German word Wurm can mean both), then a toad. While he's transformed into the toad, the two gods quickly seize the dwarf, and bring him up to the surface.

Scene 4

On the mountaintop, Wotan and Loge force Alberich to exchange his wealth for his freedom. They untie his right hand, and he uses the ring to summon his Nibelung slaves, who bring the hoard of gold. After the gold has been delivered, he asks for the return of the Tarnhelm, but Loge says that it is part of his ransom. Finally, Wotan asks him to surrender the Ring. Alberich refuses, but Wotan seizes it from his finger and puts it on his own. Alberich is crushed by his loss, and before he leaves he lays a curse on the Ring: until it returns to him, whoever does not possess it will desire it, and whoever possesses it will receive unhappiness and death.

Fafner kills Fasolt

Fricka, Donner, and Froh arrive and are greeted by Wotan and Loge, who show them the gold that will ransom Freia. Fasolt and Fafner return, carrying Freia. Reluctant to release Freia, Fasolt insists that there must be enough gold to hide her from view. They pile up the gold, and Wotan is forced to relinquish the Tarnhelm to help cover Freia completely. However, Fasolt spots a final crack in the gold, and demands that Wotan also yield the Ring. Loge reminds all present that the ring is rightly property of the Rhinemaidens. Wotan refuses to relinquish it, to Loge's displeaure, and the giants prepare to abduct Freia. Download high resolution version (600x852, 119 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (600x852, 119 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Suddenly, Erda the earth goddess, a primeval god in many ways superior to Wotan, appears out of the ground. She warns Wotan of impending doom, and urges him to avoid the cursed Ring. Troubled, Wotan surrenders the Ring and sets Freia free. The giants start dividing the treasure, but they argue over the Ring. Fafner clubs Fasolt to death, and leaves with all the loot. Wotan, horrified, realizes that Alberich's curse has terrible power. Jord was, in Norse mythology, the goddess of the Earth. ...

At last, the Gods prepare to enter their new home. Donner summons a thunderstorm to clear the air. After the storm has ended, Froh creates a rainbow bridge that stretches to the gate of the castle. Wotan leads them across the bridge to the castle, which he names Valhalla. Fricka asks him about the name, and he replies that its meaning will be revealed if all goes well. “Valhall” redirects here. ...

Loge, who knows that the end of the Gods is coming, does not follow the others into Valhalla; he admits he is tempted to destroy them and what they've deceitfully acquired. Far below, the Rhinemaidens mourn the loss of their gold. The curtain falls.

Noted Excerpts

• Prelude
• Rhinemaidens' Song
• Loge's Narration
• Descent and Ascent from Nibelheim
• Alberich's Curse
• Donner's Song (Heda! Heda hedo!)
• Rainbow Bridge Music
• Entry of the Gods into Valhalla

Resources

• All artwork by Arthur Rackham, 1910.

An illustration from Alices Adventures in Wonderland Arthur Rackham (September 19, 1867 – September 6, 1939) was a prolific British book illustrator. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Das Rheingold

• Richard Wagner - Das Rheingold. A gallery of historic postcards with motifs from Richard Wagner's operas.
• Vocal score of Das Rheingold

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

Source notes