Opera: The Rhinegold, Part I, The Ring of Nibelung, Wagner

Deep in the Rhine, three of the river's daughters, custodians of a golden treasure, laugh while they play, scarcely noticing when Alberich emerges from a crevice. Seized by desire, the gnome tries to catch the Rhinemaidens as they dart through the waters, but his clumsy attempts lead to frustration.

Taunts from his quarry merely quicken the Nibelung's lust and anger. Suddenly sunlight illuminates the summit of a rock - the Rhinegold.


Hailing the precious hoard, the nymphs are astonished that Alberich does not know what it represents. The Rhinegold is all-powerful, they explain to him, and were it fashioned into a Ring, the wearer would rule the world. But the gold is safe, they continue confidently, for whoever would steal the treasure must renounce love.

The Nibelung vows to seize the gold. Scrambling up the rock, Alberich forswears love, wrests the prize free and escapes. The waters are plunged into darkness as the Rhinemaidens lament their loss.

As the sun rises over a mountainous plateau, Fricka and Wotan slumber on a bank of flowers. A fortress, their new home, gleams in the distance. When the two gods awaken, Wotan hails the building as a fulfillment of his dreams.




Fricka reproaches her husband for having promised her sister Freia to the giants Fafner and Fasolt as payment for constructing the castle.




Wotan replies that he never meant to keep the bargain. As the terrified Freia runs in, pursued by Fafner and Fasolt, Wotan says Loge (fire) will help the gods out of their dilemma.

The giants advance to claim their reward. When Wotan protests he made the pact in jest, that they must settle for another fee, Fasolt, smitten with Freia, balks.


Fafner, intrigued that the loss of Freia's golden apples would cost the gods their eternal youth and therefore their power, decides the goddess must be abducted.

As the giants drag her away, Froh (spring) and Donner (thunder) bar their path, Donner brandishing his hammer. Wotan intervenes, saying all treaties are guaranteed on his spear. Denied Freia's golden apples, the gods begin to age.




Loge, who originated the contract with the giants, and who at Wotan's command has been trying to find a suitable payment in lieu of Freia, materializes in a puff of smoke. The crafty god suggests that perhaps the Rhinegold might be an acceptable substitute.



He then relates how Alberich stole the hoard, forging it into a Ring through which he can gain world dominance. Wotan is enthralled by the absolute power the Ring imparts, and when Fricka learns a wife could use the Ring to keep a philandering husband faithful, she urges Wotan to obtain it.

Since the Rhinemaidens want Wotan to restore the gold to them, proposes Loge, why not steal it, as Alberich did? Fafner, who wants the gold, advises Wotan to use his wits to gain the treasure.


Then, taking Freia hostage until evening, when the Nibelung's hoard must be delivered as ransom, the giants leave. No sooner does Freia disappear than the gods begin to weaken and age. Wotan, forced to make a decision, bids Loge accompany him to the nether world to seek Alberich's treasure.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• gold
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• da
• Vinci
• illuminati
• alberich
• gnomes
• opera
• cleopatra
• apocalypse
• ancient
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[intigfx]

hahaha at 5:09 David's penis is blurred. gotta love the american prudishness. wimps!

show this to any European and he'll either laugh his ass off or stand speechless.

[ludowicovan]

This is great, especially the displaying of the Leitmotive!

[darkwolfdv]

@lillymelmj

Uh yeah, but German isn't English. Ever tried to learn German? In its construction, German is closer to Latin than English--- has those pesky Cases, which you have to memorize and learn. Also, many, many words are quite different in German--- most of our words in Modern English came from the Normans, so they are Latin-based rather than Germanic. Anyway, take it from someone who lived in Germany and had to learn German quickly-- it's no picnic and major differences.

[Gryphonalia]

Wow. An english accent can sell anything.

[lillymelmj]

@darkwolfdv most english speakers speak a language based on anglo saxon which is germanic

[BecauseofHimIlive]

@matharoofmaths I know! I'm watching this as an assignment for a music class so I put up with the bad quality audio and weird "storyline," but the end was too much-and ridiculous.

[bb1111116]

@darkwolfdv; "Tolkien is a re-dresser of pre-existing folklore."

And so was Wagner. Wagner's "The Ring of Nibelung" made many changes to the original texts. Tolkien's re-dressing in his mythology is a very different story.

"And like I said, most English-speakers don't speak German and don't like opera so they are unaware of Wagner's previous genius work."

And what does that have to do with Tolkien's fiction? I like Wagner's Ring cycle. But that doesn't mean I have to falsely slam Tolkien.

[darkwolfdv]

@bb1111116

You are incorrect. What I stated is correct. Tolkien is a re-dresser of pre-existing folklore. Whether it "moves beyond" or not, it is still a retelling of the same myths. And like I said, most English-speakers don't speak German and don't like opera so they are unaware of Wagner's previous genius work.

[bb1111116]

@darkwolfdv; Silly comments. Wagner based his Ring cycle on ancient Northern European mythology. Tolkien wrote his own version of these myths called "The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun" which has recently published. But as for "The Lord of the Rings" this is Tolkien's work. It is not a retelling of a myth as with Wagner.'s Ring "The Lord of the Rings" touches on ancient mythology but then moves beyond that with a blend of various pagan and Christian ideas in an original story.

[phil2u]

Informative, but rather dull. They should have let Anna Russell record it.

[boberii]

Nice

[molkovi]

Never thought it would end up being a commercial :/