| Operas by Richard Wagner |
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Die Hochzeit (1832) |
Siegfried is the third of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner. Die Hochzeit (The Wedding is an unfinished Opera by Richard Wagner which predates all his completed works in the genre Die Feen ( The Fairies) is an Opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. Das Liebesverbot ( The Ban on Love) is an early Opera in two acts by Richard Wagner, with the Libretto written by the composer after Shakespeare's Rienzi der Letzte der Tribunen (WWV 49 ( Rienzi the Last of the Tribunes) is an early Opera by Richard Wagner in five acts with the Libretto Der fliegende Holländer ( The Flying Dutchman) is an Opera, with Music and Libretto by Richard Wagner. Tannhäuser (full title Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf der Wartburg / Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest at Wartburg) is an Opera Lohengrin is a romantic Opera (or music drama in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner. Tristan und Isolde ( Tristan and Isolde, or Tristan and Isolda) is an Opera, or Music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Mastersingers of Nuremberg) is an Opera in three acts written and composed by Richard Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic Music dramas by the German composer Das Rheingold ("The Rhine Gold" is the first of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung) by Richard Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic Music dramas by the German composer Die Walküre ( The Valkyrie) is the second of the four Operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic Music dramas by the German composer Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic Music dramas by the German composer ("Twilight of the Gods" – see Notes) is the last of the four Operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung Parsifal is an Opera, or Music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic Music dramas by the German composer It received its premiere at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus on 16 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of The Ring. Bayreuthfestjpg|thumb|350px|right|Bayreuth Festspielhaus as seen in 1882 Events 1384 - The Hongwu Emperor of Ming China, Emperor Dong hears a case of a couple who tore paper money bills while fighting Year 1876 ( MDCCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year
Contents |
Composition
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, August 16, 1876 (Conductor: Hans Richter) |
|---|---|---|
| Siegfried | tenor | Georg Unger |
| Mime | tenor | Karl Schlosser |
| The Wanderer | bass-baritone | Franz Betz |
| Alberich | baritone | Karl Hill |
| Fafner | bass | Franz von Reichenberg |
| Waldvogel (forest bird) | soprano | Marie Haupt |
| Erda | contralto | Luise Jaide |
| Brünnhilde | soprano | Amalia Materna |
Synopsis
Act 1
Mime, Alberich's brother, is forging a blade in his cave within the forest. The evolution of Richard Wagner’s Operatic tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelung was a long and tortuous process and the precise sequence of events which The composition of the Operatic tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelung occupied Richard Wagner for more than a quarter of a century WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Hans Richter ( 4 April 1843 in Raab The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass that shares certain qualities with the Baritone Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. Arthur Rackham ( 19 September 1867 &ndash 6 September 1939) was a prolific English book illustrator A forge is the workplace of a smith or a Blacksmith. A forge is sometimes referred to as a smithy. The Nibelung dwarf is plotting to obtain the Ring for himself, having raised Siegfried to kill Fafner for him. The German Nibelungen and the corresponding Old Norse form Niflung ( Niflungr) is the name in Germanic and Norse mythology DWARF is a widely used standardized Debugging data format. DWARF was originally designed along with ELF, although it is independent of Object file In Norse mythology, Andvarinaut ("Andvari's Gift" is a magical ring capable of producing gold first owned by Andvari. He needs a sword for Siegfried to use, but the youth has broken every blade he has made. Siegfried returns from his wanderings in the forest, demanding to know his parentage, and Mime is forced to explain how he took in Siegfried's mother, Sieglinde, who died giving birth. Signe is the name of two heroines in two connected legends from Scandinavian mythology which were very popular in medieval Scandinavia He shows Siegfried the shards of Nothung, and Siegfried orders him to reforge the sword. In Norse mythology, Gram ( Old Norse "wrath" is the name of the Sword that Sigurd (Siegfried used to kill the dragon
Siegfried departs, leaving Mime in despair: it is beyond his skill to repair Nothung. An old man (Wotan in disguise) abruptly appears at his door. The Wanderer wagers his head on answering any three riddles from Mime, and Mime agrees in order to dispose of his unwelcome guest. A riddle is a Statement or Question having a double or veiled meaning put forth as a Puzzle to be solved He asks the Wanderer to name the races that live beneath the ground, on the surface, and the skies. These are the Nibelung, the Giants, and the Gods, as the Wanderer correctly answers. A jötunn, sometimes anglicized as jotun (pronounced yotun is a giant in Norse mythology, a member of a race of nature spirits with superhuman strength In Old Norse, áss (or ǫ́ss ás, plural æsir, feminine ásynja, feminine plural ásynjur) is the term denoting one of the principal Now Mime is forced to wager his own head on answering the Wanderer's riddles. The Wanderer asks him to name the race most beloved of Wotan, but most harshly treated; the name of the blade that can destroy Fafner; and the person who can make the blade. Mime gives the answer to the first two riddles: the Wälsungs and Nothung. However, he is unable to answer the last riddle. Wotan spares Mime, telling him that only "he who does not know fear" can reforge Nothung, and leaves Mime's head forfeit to that person.
Siegfried returns and is annoyed by Mime's lack of progress. Mime realizes that the one thing he has not taught Siegfried is fear. Siegfried is eager to learn it, and Mime promises to teach him by bringing him to Fafner the dragon. Since Mime was unable to forge Nothung, Siegfried decides to do it himself. He succeeds by shredding the metal, melting it, and casting it anew. In the meantime, Mime, realizing that by the terms of his agreement with the Wanderer his head is now forfeit to Siegfried, brews a poisoned drink to offer Siegfried after the youth has defeated the dragon.
Act 2
The Wanderer arrives at the entrance to Fafner's cave, where Alberich is keeping a vigil. The old enemies quickly recognize each other. Alberich blusters, boasting of his plans for ruling the World once the Ring is returned to him. Wotan calmly states that he does not intend to obtain the Ring. To Alberich's surprise, Wotan wakes Fafner and informs the dragon that a hero is coming to fight him. Fafner dismisses the threat, refuses to surrender the Ring to Alberich, and returns to sleep. Both Wotan and Alberich depart.
At daybreak, Siegfried and Mime arrive. Mime decides to draw back while Siegfried confronts the dragon. As Siegfried waits for the dragon to appear, he notices a woodbird in a tree. Befriending it, he attempts to mimic the bird's song using a reed pipe, but is unsuccessful. He then plays a tune on his horn, which brings Fafner out of his cave. After a short exchange, they fight, and Siegfried stabs Fafner in the heart with Nothung. In Norse mythology, Gram ( Old Norse "wrath" is the name of the Sword that Sigurd (Siegfried used to kill the dragon
In his last moments, Fafner learns Siegfried's name, and tells him to beware of treachery. When Siegfried draws his sword from the corpse, his hands are burned by the dragon's blood, and he instinctively puts them to his mouth. Dragon's blood serves a purpose in many different mythologies. On tasting the blood, he finds that he can understand the woodbird's song. In Mythology, Medieval literature and Occultism, the language of the birds is postulated as a mystical perfect or Divine language, or a Following its instructions, he takes the Ring and the Tarnhelm from Fafner's hoard. Tarnhelm is the name of a magic Helmet in Richard Wagner 's Der Ring des Nibelungen. Mime reappears, and Siegfried complains that he has still not learned the meaning of fear. Mime offers him the poisoned drink. However, the dragon's blood allows Siegfried to read Mime's treacherous thoughts, and he slays the Nibelung. Siegfried then throws Mime's body into the treasure cave-and places Fafner's body in the cave entrance to block it as well.
The woodbird now sings of a woman sleeping on a rock surrounded by magic fire. Siegfried, wondering if he can learn fear from this woman, heads toward the mountain.
Act 3
The Wanderer appears on the path to Brünnhilde's rock and summons Erda, the earth goddess. In Norse mythology, Jörð ( Old Norse "earth" jɔrð Jarð jɑrð in Old East Norse --> sometimes Anglicized as Jord Erda, appearing confused, is unable to offer any advice. Wotan informs her that he no longer fears the end of the Gods; indeed, it is his desire. In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (rɑgnɑrɔk Old Norse "Final destiny of the gods" refers to a series of major events including a great battle foretold His heritage will be left to Siegfried the Walsung, and their child, Brünnhilde, will "work the deed that redeems the World. " Dismissed,Erda sinks back into the earth.
Siegfried arrives, and the Wanderer questions the youth. Siegfried, who does not recognize his grandfather, answers insolently and starts down the path towards Brünnhilde's rock. The Wanderer blocks his path, but Siegfried breaks Wotan's spear with a blow from Nothung. In Wotan calmly gathers up the pieces and vanishes.
Siegfried enters the ring of fire, emerging on Brünnhilde's rock. At first, he thinks the armored figure is a man. However, when he removes the armor, he finds a woman beneath. Uncertain about what to do, Siegfried at last experiences fear. In desperation, he kisses Brünnhilde, waking her from her magic sleep. Hesitant at first, Brünnhilde is won over by Siegfried's love, and renounces the world of the Gods. Together, they hail "light-bringing love, and laughing death. "
Noted excerpts
As with the rest of the Ring, a few excerpts are heard outside the opera house. The most common heard excerpt from Siegfried is the Forest Murmurs.
Other famous excerpts include
- Prelude to Act I
- Siegfried's Forging Song (Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert!) (Act I)
- Forest Murmurs (Act II)
- Prelude to Act III
- Brünnhilde's Awakening (Heil dir, Sonne!) (Act III)
- Quotations of the Siegfried Idyll (Act III)
Sources
Siegfried begins fearless, and expresses his wish to learn fear to his foster father Mime, who says the wise learn fear quickly, but the stupid find it more difficult. The Siegfried Idyll, one of Richard Wagner 's few non-operatic works is a Symphonic poem lasting approximately twenty minutes for Chamber orchestra In a letter to his friend Theodor Uhlig, Wagner recounts The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was, about a boy so stupid he could not discover what fear was -- and points out that the youth and Siegfried are the same character. The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was or The Story of a Boy Who Went Forth to Learn Fear is a German Fairy tale collected Although Wagner did not include the connection, the boy is taught fear by his wife, as Siegfried learns it when he discovers the sleeping Brünnhilde. Brynhildr is a Shieldmaiden and a Valkyrie in Norse mythology, where she appears as a main character in the Völsunga saga and some [1]
References
- ^ Maria Tatar, The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales, p104, ISBN 0-691-06722-8
See also
External links
- Der Ring des Nibelungen - Free download online. Der Ring des Nibelungen ( The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic Music dramas by the German composer The evolution of Richard Wagner’s Operatic tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelung was a long and tortuous process and the precise sequence of events which The composition of the Operatic tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelung occupied Richard Wagner for more than a quarter of a century Sigurd ( Old Norse: Sigurðr) is a legendary hero of Norse mythology, as well as the central character in the Völsunga saga. TEMPUS Collection - Maximianno Cobra Edition.
- Richard Wagner - Siegfried. A gallery of historic postcards with motives from Richard Wagner's operas.
- Vocal score of Siegfried
- The libretto in German
| Der Ring des Nibelungen |
| Das Rheingold | Die Walküre | Siegfried | Götterdämmerung |
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