Der Ring des Nibelungen

cycle of four operas by Richard Wagner

Das Rheingold Edit

Das Rheingold is an opera by Richard Wagner.

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

Arthur Rackham's illustrations Edit

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

Audio Edit

Pronunciation of the original title

Die Walküre Edit

Die Walküre is an opera by Richard Wagner.

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

Arthur Rackham's illustrations Edit

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

Audio Edit

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

Siegfried Edit

Siegfried is an opera by Richard Wagner.

Arthur Rackham's illustrations Edit

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

Götterdämmerung Edit

Götterdämmerung is an opera by Richard Wagner.

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

Arthur Rackham's illustrations Edit

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

Audio Edit

Pronounciation

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