Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen | Götterdämmerung Act I (MET 1990)

Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods), WWV 86D, is the last in Richard Wagner's cycle of four music dramas titled Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung, or The Ring for short). It received its premiere at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus on 17 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of the Ring.

The title is a translation into German of the Old Norse phrase Ragnarök, which in Norse mythology refers to a prophesied war among various beings and gods that ultimately results in the burning, immersion in water, and renewal of the world. However, as with the rest of the Ring, Wagner's account diverges significantly from his Old Norse sources. In the final opera of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle, the lovers Siegfried and Brünnhilde are torn apart by a pair of royal siblings who use magic and deception to gain their love and the magic ring.

Götterdammerung Synopsis - Place of action:

PROLOGUE: The Valkyrie's rock at night
The three norns, spinning their rope of fate, relate how the world ash tree has withered since Wotan cut his spear from it and the spring at its base has dried up. He had the tree chopped down and the branches piled round Valhalla, ready for the final conflagration. The norns' rope frays and they cannot see the end of the story of the stolen gold and the curse. The rope breaks and the Norns' wisdom is at an end.
Siegfried leaves Brünnhilde to seek new adventures. He gives her the ring and she gives him her horse Grane. He sets off towards the Rhine.

Act I - Scene 1: The hall of the Gibichungs on the Rhine
Hagen advises Gunther that both he and his sister Gutrune should marry. He proposes Brünnhilde for Gunther and Siegfried for Gutrune, telling her that Siegfried will be sure to fall in love with her after he has drunk a magic potion, but not mentioning that it is a draught of forgetfulness, necessary to make Siegfried forget Brünnhilde. Siegfried will help Gunther win Brünnhilde, since only he can break through the wall of fire, and will receive Gutrune as his reward. Siegfried arrives at Gunther's court and is welcomed warmly. Gutrune offers him the drink and he forgets Brünnhilde, falls in love with Gutrune and agrees to help Gunther win Brünnhilde, using the Tarnhelm to make himself look like Gunther. Gunther and Siegfried swear blood-brotherhood but Hagen abstains. Siegfried and Gunther set off to win Brünnhilde and Hagen remains on watch, brooding over his plans to win the ring.

Scene 2: The Valkyrie's rock
Brünnhilde is visited by her sister valkyrie Waltraute. She tells how she has found love and happiness, but Waltraute sadly tells her how Wotan, his spear shattered, has returned to Valhalla and sits there inactive. The only thing that can free the world from Alberich's curse is for the ring to be returned to the Rhinemaidens, but Brünnhilde refuses to surrender Siegfried's parting gift and Waltraute leaves sorrowfully. Siegfried's horn seems to announce the returning hero, but the man who bursts through the flames is a stranger. The disguised Siegfried drags the ring from Brünnhilde's finger and claims her as Gunther's bride. He follows her into the cave, preparing to spend the night there, with his sword between them, to keep faith with Gunther.

Cast & Character:
Siegfried - Siegfried Jerusalem
Brünnhilde - Hildegard Behrens
Gunther - Anthony Raffell
Hagen - Matti Salminen
Waltraute - Christa Ludwig
Alberich - Ekkehard Wlaschiha
Gutrune - Hanna Liskows

Woglinde - Kaaren Erickson
Wellgunde - Diane Kesling
Flosshilde - Meredith Parsons

1. Norn - Gweniet Bean
2. Norn - Joyce Castle
3. Norn - Andrea Gruber

Götterdämmerung Act II-III: https://rumble.com/v4bn9ue-richard-wagners-der-ring-des-nibelungen-gtterdmmerung-act-ii-iii-met-1990.html