The opera begins with three Rhine maidens frolicking in the waters beneath the Rhine River. Alberich, a Nibelung dwarf, emerges and covets the Rhinegold, a magical treasure hoarded by the Rhine maidens which, when fashioned into a ring, will grant its owner untold power and dominion over the Nibelungs and the world.
Alberich seizes the Rhinegold, renouncing love and laughter in exchange for power and wealth. He disappears, leaving the Rhine maidens to mourn the loss of their treasure. Meanwhile, the gods Wotan, his wife Fricka, and their siblings Donnar, Froh, and Freia are assembling for the inauguration of Valhalla, a magnificent new home for the gods. To show his appreciation, Wotan has given Freia to the giants Fasolt and Fafner as payment for building Valhalla.
However, the gods are in trouble because Fasolt and Fafner demand Freia in exchange for releasing her. Loge, a cunning god of fire and trickery, hatches a scheme to outwit the giants. He reveals that the Nibelung Alberich has fashioned the Rhinegold into a ring of power and tells the giants that the ring is the only thing that can satisfy Fasolt and Fafner.
Fasolt and Fafner agree to accept the ring in exchange for Freia, but they quarrel over its possession. In the ensuing chaos, Loge quickly snatches the ring and gives it to Wotan, who proclaims that the ring now belongs to the gods.
The gods celebrate their victory, moving into their new home in Valhalla. However, the Rhingold remains beneath the Rhine, and its curse still hangs over the gods and the world.
Musical Highlights:
* "Das Rheingold - Prelude"
* "Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla"
* "The Giants' Chorus"
* "Siegfried's Journey to Brünnhilde"
* "Brünnhilde's Immolation"
Background:
Das Rheingold is the first of the four music dramas that comprise Wagner's epic operatic cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). It was first performed at the National Theatre Munich in 1869. The libretto was written by Wagner himself, and the music is some of the most complex and intricate of Wagner's career.
Das Rheingold is a powerful and moving work that explores themes of greed, power, love, and sacrifice. It is a masterpiece of musical theater and a must-see for any fan of opera.