Der Ring des Nibelungen

Das Rheingold

Das Rheingold is an opera by Richard Wagner.

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  Illustration of Sceme 2 by Ferdinand Leeke
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  Illustration of the first performance, Bayreuth 1876
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  Bühnenbildentwurf
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  Bookcover piano score

Arthur Rackham's illustrations

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  The Rhinemaidens play in the waters of the Rhine.
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  The Rhinemaidens tease Alberich as he reaches out for one of them.
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  Alberich climbs around, attempting to get closer to the Rhinemaidens.
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  Alberich steals the Rhinegold and is chased by the Rhinemaidens.
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  The goddess Freia stands under a tree of apples with her cats by her feet.
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  Loge talks to the Rhinemaidens.
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  Freia is carried away by the giants Fasolt and Fafner.
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  Donner, Froh, Fricka, Wotan and Loge rue the loss of Freia and her apples.
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  Alberich pinches Mime's ear.
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  Alberich puts on the Tarnhelm and vanishes; his brother Mime remains.
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  Alberich lords over the Nibelungs.
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  Loge feigns fear as Alberich turns into a giant snake.
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  Fafner and Fasolt complain that they can still see Freia and demand more gold.
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  Erda appears to warn Wotan.
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  Fafner kills Fasolt to get the ring for himself.
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  Donner calls upon the storm clouds.
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  The Rhinemaidens lament the loss of the Rhinegold.

Audio

• Pronunciation of the original title

Die Walküre

Die Walküre is an opera by Richard Wagner.

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  Book cover for piano score
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  Art title page for Schott's vocal score of Die Walkure, 1899

Arthur Rackham's illustrations

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  Sieglinde brings the exhausted Siegmund something to drink.
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  Sieglinde brings food to Siegmund and Hunding.
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  Sieglinde fetches a drink for Hunding, putting something to make him sleep into it.
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  Taking his sister as his wife, Siegmund holds up the sword Nothung.
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  Brünnhilde the Valkyrie
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  Rushing to meet Wotan, Fricka drives her rams furiously with her whip.
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  Brünnhilde with her horse
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  Wotan and Brünnhilde discuss the fate of Siegmund.
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  Brünnhilde is distraught at having to give victory to Hunding.
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  Brünnhilde goes to meet Siegmund.
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  Brünnhilde brings Sieglinde to her surprised sisters.
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  Wotan chases after Brünnhilde.
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  Fafner guards his treasure.
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  Ride of the Valkyries
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  Wotan has summoned Loge to encircle the sleeping Brünnhilde with magic fire.
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  "No-one who fears me will ever pass through these flames!"
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  Brünnhilde lies asleep, surrounded with magic fire.

Audio

• Der Ritt der Walküren, 1921, Edison Records
• Die Walküre, United States Marine Band

Siegfried

Siegfried is an opera by Richard Wagner.

Arthur Rackham's illustrations

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  Mime works on a sword for Siegfried.
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  Mime offers food to the young Siegfried.
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  Siegfried studies the animals in the forest.
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  Siegfried looks at his reflection in the brook.
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  Mime comes upon Sieglinde in the forest.
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  The dragon Fafner guards the gold hoard.
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  Wotan visits Mime and offers him his help.
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  Siegfried forges the sword Nothung as Mime prepares a sleeping potion to use on him.
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  Mime cowers in fear as Siegfried holds aloft the sword Nothung.
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  Siegfried slays Fafner.
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  Having slain Fafner, Siegfried tastes his blood and comes to understand the speech of birds.
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  Alberich and Mime argue by Fafner's dead body.
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  Siegfried comes upon the sleeping Brünnhilde.
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  Brünnhilde wakes up and greets the day and Siegfried.
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  Brünnhilde and Siegfried

Götterdämmerung

Götterdämmerung is an opera by Richard Wagner.

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  Klavierauszug
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  cast of the last performance in the old building of the Vienna State Opera before bombing during World War II; insert of the playbill
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  Illustration by Ferdinand Leeke

Arthur Rackham's illustrations

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  The three Norns
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  The Norns vanish.
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  Siegfried leaves Brünnhilde.
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  The seduction of Siegfried by Gutrune
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  Brünnhilde kisses her ring.
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  The ravens of Wotan
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  Brünnhilde's sister tries to persuade her to throw away her ring.
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  Alberich woos Grimhilde, mother of Hagen.
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  Alberich and Hagen
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  Hagen informs Brünnhilde of Siegfried's betrayal.
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  The Rhinemaidens tease Siegfried.
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  The Rhinemaidens warn Siegfried.
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  Siegfried's death
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  Brünnhilde leaps onto Siegfried's funeral pyre.
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  The Rhinemaidens take back their ring.

Audio

• Pronounciation