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Music and lyrics: Richard Wagner
Libretto
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Première
First performance at Festspielhaus i Bayreuth on 16 of August 1876.
| Roles | Voices |
|---|---|
| Siegfried | tenor |
| Mime | tenor |
| The Wanderer | baritone |
| Alberich | bassbaritone |
| Fafner | bass |
| Erda | alto |
| Brünnhilde | soprano |
| Voice of woodbird | soprano |
More than 40 years ago, Alberich forged a ring that renders omnipotence. The chief of the gods, Wotan, stole the ring from him but gave it to Fafner the giant as payment for the castle Valhalla. Fafner, transformed into a dragon, has since guarded the ring while both Wotan and Alberich have attempted to capture it. Wotan is unable to steal the ring as this would breach his own law. He therefore fostered the children Siegmund and Sieglinde, who where to win back the ring for him. However, the plan backfired and they both died. But before Sieglinde died, she gave birth to her and Siegmund's son, Siegfried. He may have the ability to win back the ring,but only if Wotan will let him. Wotan was compelled to disown his daughter, Brunnhilde the Valkyrie, who set herself up against him. As punishment, she was to become a mortal and sleep on a mountain until awaken by a man. However, Wotan encircled her with a fierce ring of fire so only the most daring would ever be able to wake her. Alberich's younger brother Mime, found Sieglinde dying while in childbirth and took upon himself to bring up Siegfried. Mime hopes that Siegfried can win the ring for him and has brought up Siegfried in seclusion without letting him know his true identity. This way he hopes to manipulate Siegfried to his own advantage.
Mime attemps to forge the sword Nothung, which broke many years ago in the battle where Siegfried'ds father was killed. Yet this is the only sword which will allow Siegfried to kill Fafner the dragon. Siegfried, who is now a young man, rebels against Mime's authority and scheme and starts to ask questions about his heritage. Finally, Mime admits that he was not Siegfried's father and that his true parents died many years ago. He then shows Siegfried the broken sword. Siegfried demands that Mime is to recast the sword, but that is beyond Mime's capacity. Wotan turns up as Siegfried disappears. He arrives incognito and calls himself the Wanderer - to emphasise that he is but an onlooker and will not meddle. However,he needs to tell Mime how to proceed, but since he must not interfere he masks his enterprise as a guessing game. He tells Mime that only he who knows fear will be able to recast the sword. Siegfried returns home and Mime discovers that Siegfried is fearless. He lures Siegfried into forging the sword himself - and he succeeds! Mime prepares a sleeping potion, which he will give Siegfried when his foster son killed the dragon.
Alberich wakes with his son Hagen in Fafner's cave. Wotan enters and tells him that Siegfried and Mime are on their way. He teases Alberich who is perplexed by Wotan's high-spirited manner. Siegfried and Mime arrive. Siegfried seeks to learn how to feel fear, and Mime promises him that the dragon will teach him. Mime hides, and when Fafner wakes, Siegfried fearlessly engages in battle and kills him. Oblivious of its power Siegfried takes the ring. When Siegfried accidentally tastes Faner's blood he is able to understand what a bird of the forrets sings to him. The bird tells him that he can now read Mime's thoughts. And sure as can be, he now understands that Mime will give him a sleeping potion and will then kill him in order to win the ring. Siegfried kills Mime on the spot but immediately feels lonely. Mime was, after all, the closest he had to a family. But the bird tells Siegfried that he can now follow to the mountain encircled by fire where a woman - Brünnhilde - awaits him.
Wotan is happy. His grandchild, Siegfried, now has the ring and is on his way to Brünnhilde - all according to plan. Wotan visits his great love, Erda, whom he abandoned many years ago. He wants to share it all with her and to celebrate surrendering his power to finally enjoy life with her. But Erda has become old, and Wotan must acknowledge his own old age. Instead Wotan goes out to meet Siegfried, who assume power in his place. But when Wotan finally meets his beloved grandchild he discovers how difficult it is to relinquish power. Siegfried doesn't show respect, and Wotan tells him to fear his spear, but Siegfried is not afraid and definitely overturns Wotan's power - without knowing that Wotan is his own grandfather. Siegfried walks through fire and finds the sleeping Brünnhilde on the mountain. He wakes her, and she is delighet to see him. But Siegfried has never seen a woman before and Brünnhilde has never been a human before. They must now overcome their fear in order to give themselves in full….
Kasper Bech Holten
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Decca 455 555-2[14 CD].1965
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