![[W. i 1865]](gall/rw65a.jpg)
Introduction
On the title page of The Nibelung's Ring, Wagner dedicates the work to King Ludwig II of Bavaria. He also calls the tetralogy «Ein Bühnenfestspiel für drei Tage und einen Vorabend». So he counts the Rhinegold as a «Vorabend» - a preliminary evening. This should not deceive us into believing that the Rhinegold is of minor importance in the totality of the work. On the contrary, in the Rhinegold, the fundamental conflicts that will permeate the whole tetralogy are established.
The first prose sketches for Das Rheingold was written on 3 Nov 1851 and the libretto was complete on 3 Nov 1853. The composition of the music was started on 1 Nov 1853 and the opera was complete 28 May 1854. The first performance was at the "Königliches Hof- und National-Theater" in Munich, 22 Sep 1869. The first performance as part of a complete cycle was in Bayreuth 13 Aug 1876. The first performance in Norway was at "Den norske Opera" 30 Jan 1993.
The action in Das Rheingold happens in mythical times. The characters in this musical drama include gods, half-gods, nymphs, dwarfs and giants - but no human beings. They first appear in the next opera of the cycle, Die Walküre.
Elsewhere you may find the complete libretto in German.
In the following synopsis, the leitmotifs are exemplified with excerpts from the score and with MIDI-files so you can get an impression of how they sound. Read more about the Nibelung's Ring in general and Wagner's use of leitmotifs in the article "Leitmotifs in Der Ring des Nibelungen - an introduction".
Characters in Das Rheingold
Die Rhine-daughters - Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde
The three Rhine-maidens are nymphs living in the eternally flowing water of the Rhine. Their duty is to guard the Rhine-gold. The Rhine-daughters are related to mermaids and like these they have a seductive power of attraction on male characters. The Rheintöchter are lovely but simple creatures of nature.
The Nibelungs - Alberich and his brother Mime
The Nibelungs are a subterranean race - dwarfs. Their profession is to mine and forge valuable minerals. The Nibelungs are hard working and they were once carefree and fun loving creatures.
The Gods
Wotan
Wotan is the king of the Gods, the All-Father, protector of treaties and promises. He sacrificed one of his eyes to be able to drink from the Source of Wisdom. Recent events may make one wonder if this was worth it!Fricka
Fricka is Wotan's wife and the queen of the gods. She is the lofty protector of matrimony - in spite of her husband's many escapades.Freia
Freia is Fricka's sister. She is the goddess of Love, Youth and Beauty. As a symbol Freia is central to the whole of the Ring.Loge
Loge is the god of Fire - a demigod and the only one who appears both as a person and as an element. Loge is the restless and unpredictable half-god of cunning and intelligence. He is considered unreliable and mischievous. Loge stands somewhat apart from the general action - through his distanced and ironic comments. He contributes to the action by following Wotan's commands, but he also influences the events directly by his suggestions and recommendations. More views on Loge may be found in the article Loge - person and element, commentator and agent.Donner and Froh
are the brothers of Freia and Fricka. These two gods are of minor importance in the drama. Donner is the god of thunder and lightning - which is demonstrated at the end of the Rhinegold. Froh is the protector of the fields and the god of light. In the final scene of the Rhinegold he is associated with the rainbow that leads over to Walhall.
The Giants Fasolt and Fafner
The Giants live on the surface of the earth, in Riesenheim. They are not regarded as very smart, but they are of course strong, hard working and enduring. The brothers Fasolt and Fafner have built the fortress Walhall for the gods, by agreement with Wotan.
Erda
Erda is the goddess of the earth, the goddess of wisdom and the mother of the Nornes. She exists in and as part of the earth, separate from and till now unknown by the other gods. The Nornes tell her each night what has happened, what is happening and what will happen in the future. Erda appears at the dramatic climax of Das Rheingold.
Symbols and objects
The Rheingold
The three Rhine-daughters guard the gold that alternately "sleeps" and "wakes" on the bottom of the Rhine. They claim that one who forswears all love may forge a
Ring
from this Gold - and that the one, who keeps this Ring can win all riches and powers of the earth.
Walhall
is the new residence of the Gods - a castle they still have not moved into. According to Wotan, this castle will protect the gods' honour and secure their power.
Wotan's Spear
The king of Gods, Wotan rules through treaties. These treaties are as runes carved into his Spear - thus the Spear shall protect these treaties.
Golden Apples
Freia alone grows these Apples - and she shares generously with the other gods. The golden Apples of Freia secure the gods' eternal life and eternal youth.
Tarnhelm
This is a magic helmet, forged by Mime by order from his brother, Alberich. He that wears Tarnhelm can be invisible or take on any form or figure.
Action
Scene 1 - On the bed of the Rhine
In the beginning there is Nature.
Nature [Play this motif]
The Nature appears as a smooth and uninterrupted flowing motion.
The Nature in movement [Play this motif]
From Nature's endless darkness emerges the mighty Rhine. The steady stream of the river is all encompassing.
The Rhine [Play this motif]
The three Rhine-daughters, Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde appear. They swim around playfully.
The Rhine-daughters [Play this motif]
Flosshilde is the most conscientious of the three. She reminds her sisters that their plight is to guard the Rhinegold!
The Nibelungs are a subterranean, hard-working people. The Nibelung Alberich appears at the bottom of the Rhine.
Alberich [Play this motif]
The sight of the Rhine-daughters who are swimming playfully around spellbinds him. When they see Alberich they tease him intensely. By turn they pretend to be attracted by the dwarf. The one sings more seductively than the other, but in the end all three rejects him. Finally the Rhine-daughters mock him and laugh at his pain and despair.
Alberich's Pain [Play this motif]
The Nibelung does not belong in the Rhine. The slippery bottom makes him lose his footing and the humidity makes him sneeze. Neither is he able to catch hold of the nymphs. Finally Alberich is enraged and frustrated and he hunts the three Rhine-maidens. He threats to take one of them by force, if they will not surrender voluntarily. But he is not at home in the Rhine, and they easily evade him.
Alberich's threat [Play this motif]
Suddenly the morning rays of the sun illuminate the Rhinegold. The Gold starts to spread a golden glimmer.
Rhinegold [Play this motif]
Rhinegold (motif and accompaniment) [Play this music]
The Rhine-daughters swim joyously round the Gold and bask in the light of its lustre.
The Rhine-daughters' joy 1 [Play this motif]
The Rhine-daughters' joy 2 [Play this motif]
Alberich cannot understand what is so splendid about this gold. The Rhine-maidens then tell him that a Ring may be forged from the Gold and that the one that carries this Ring may have unlimited power and wealth.
The Idea of the Ring [Play this motif]
But they add: This will never happen, because only the one who forswears love will be able to take the Gold and forge a Ring with this Gold. The Rhine-daughters are completely certain nobody ever will do this, and least of all the love-hungry Alberich.
Renunciation of love[Play this motif]
Alberich is frustrated and enraged after the Rhine-daughters' mockery. Now he reasons that even without love, he may forcibly satisfy his lust. He renounces love with a terrible oath, steals the Gold and disappears. The three Rhine-daughters despair from their loss. Alberich is now able to forge the Ring of power.
The Nibelung's Ring [Play this motif]
Change of scene - gradual transition to:
Scene 2 - An open space on a mountain summit
Walhall [Play this motif]
Fricka, Wotan's wife, wakes Wotan who dreams of power and honour. He praises the new fortress, Walhall, which the Giants have built for him and the other gods. Walhall has been completed while Wotan was asleep.
Fricka is very troubled. She reminds Wotan of the wages he has promised to pay for Walhall: Freia, her beautiful, younger sister.
Freia [Play this motif]
Freia is the goddess of love and youth. In Freia's garden grow apples that secure the gods' eternal youth.
Freia's golden apples [Play this motif]
Fricka accuses Wotan for lust for power when he wanted to build the new fortress. He asks her in return if not she had a touch of the same when she asked him for the same. Her answer is that she wants to make sure of her husbands fidelity and keep him home.
Fidelity [Play this motif]
Wotan's answer is that nothing can hold him at home; he needs constant change to be able to live.
At this point Freia rushes desperately into the scene, pursued by the giants Fasolt and Fafner.
The Giants [Play this motif]
The giants request their wages as agreed: They want to take Freia to their home. Now Wotan is in a terrible situation. Freia was actually part of the deal with the giants, an agreement that is protected by Wotan's Spear.
Wotan's Spear [Play this motif]
But of course, Wotan does not intend to let the giants take Freia away. He explains that the agreement was only for jest - the giants must propose another pay. The giants keep to the promise, though, and they point out that Wotan rules through the power of his treaties and that he therefore must keep these himself.
Wotan's Treaties [Play this motif]
Freia's brothers, Donner and Froh, will save her by force, but this Wotan prevent.
Froh [Play this motif]
Wotan expects Loge soon to appear and save him from the pinch. Loge is the roaming and changeable demigod of fire and Wotan's smart advisor. Loge is the only character in the Ring that appears both as a person and as an element.
Loge 1 [Play this motif]
Loge 2 [Play this motif]
Loge arrives first as fire, but he changes at once to a person.
Loge 3 [Play this motif]
Loge 4 [Play this motif]
Loge 5 [Play this motif]
Loge 6 [Play this motif]
Loge has in fact had two different missions. First, he should check for faults in Walhall. The intention of Wotan was that such faults would give the gods a reason not to pay the agreed wages, Freia. Loge's report is short and is quickly delivered: Walhall is flawless. Loge's second mission was to try and find something to replace Freia as payment, something the Giants would be satisfied with. This has not been so simple either. Loge has travelled around the whole world - everywhere a woman's love is appreciated above all.
Longing for love [Play this motif]
He can report of one exception, though. Loge tells the story of Alberich - how Alberich has renounced love, stolen the Rhinegold and forged a Ring of power. The Giants also hear this story and they decide they may take the gold of the Nibelung as a substitute for Freia, if Wotan can supply it to them. Loge reports that the Rhinedaughters want their gold back. Wotan too wants the Ring and the gold for himself. His opinion is that this would secure eternal power and safety.
The Giants decide to take Freia as hostage and they carry her off. As a result of this, the Gods rapidly become old and weak - now they no longer have the eternal youth that Freia's golden apples give them.
Ageing [Play this motif]
Wotan and Loge leaves for Nibelheim. There they will try to steal Alberich's gold so that the Gods may release Freia and get their lost youth back. On their way down to Nibelheim the sound of lots of hammering dwarves is heard.
Dwarves hammering [Play this motif]
Scene 3 - In Nibelheim
Alberich has forced his brother, Mime, to forge a magic helmet, Tarnhelm. The one who carries Tarnhelm and knows the magic words, can make himself invisible or transform himself into another being.
Tarnhelm [Play this motif]
Mime tries to keep Tarnhelm to himself, but Alberich brutally takes hold of the helmet. The now invisible Alberich terrorizes Mime and the other Nibelungs.
Subjugation [Play this motif]
Wotan and Loge arrive in Nibelheim. They listen to Mimes complaints of Alberich's violence.
Mime's brooding [Play this motif]
Alberich soon reappears. He drives his workers mercilessly.
The force of the Ring [Play this motif]
The Nibelungs produce a large hoard of gold for Alberich
Hoard of gold [Play this motif]
Alberich considers himself to be the future ruler of the world, and he predicts his own rule over Wotan and the Gods. Wotan is provokes and moves to strike down Alberich with his Spear. Loge manages to calm Wotan down. With flattery and hypocrisy Loge tricks Alberich into demonstrating the magic power of Tarnhelm.
Hypocrisy [Play this motif]
Loge asks Alberich to demonstrate something really frightening. Alberich transforms himself into a giant dragon. Loge and Wotan feigns fear.
Dragon [Play this motif]
Loge then claims that it must be even more difficult to change into something small. So Alberich transforms himself into a toad!
Toad [Play this motif]
The toad is an easy prey to Wotan and Loge and Alberich is quickly captured. Loge binds him, and together they haul him up to the higher regions of the Gods.
Scene 4 - An open space on a mountain summit
Wotan and Loge have returned to the higher regions of the mountains with their prisoner, Alberich. Wotan demands Alberich's hoard of gold in return for the freedom of the dwarf. Using his magic Ring, Alberich summons the Nibelungs, which bring the hoard. The Nibelungs again disappear and Alberich demands to be set free. Wotan first claims Tarnhelm, and finally also the Ring. Alberich refuses to give up the Ring, but Wotan forcefully tears it from Alberich's finger. The furious Alberich now feels that his life has lost all meaning.
Alberich's wrath [Play this motif]
Alberich places a terrible curse on the Ring and all its future owners. This curse will cling to the Ring through the rest of the opera cycle.
Alberich's curse [Play this motif]
Alberich has disappeared, and the gods are generally quite satisfied with what Wotan has achieved. Fasolt and Fafner return with Freia. Her presence quickly restores the youth of the gods.
Brightening [Play this motif]
The Giants, especially Fasolt, will really miss Freia. To ease their loss, they demand so much gold that the pile should cover Freia completely and hide her from their sight. All the gold must be used to achieve this, and even the Tarnhelm is necessary, - to cover her hair. But Fasolt is still able to glimpse Freia's eye through a crack in the pile of gold. Fafner rightly points out that Wotan's Ring is exactly right to fill the crevice. Wotan stubbornly refuses to let the Ring go. The conjectured promise of power that is associated with the Ring makes Wotan want to keep this for himself. The Giants are not willingly accepting this, and they again start to leave with Freia. In this most dramatic moment, Erda, the earth goddess and ur-mother, appears from the ground!
Erda [Play this motif]
Erda implores Wotan to give up the Ring. She also declares that the end of the gods (Götterdämmerung) is near.
Götterdämmerung [Play this motif]
Erda's message has made a powerful impression on Wotan, and he finally gives the Ring to the Giants. Freia is released and the gods are reunited, apparently in happiness. Wotan is left with a new longing - he needs to see Erda again...
The Giants immediately starts a quarrel over the golden treasure and the Ring, a quarrel ending with Fafner killing his brother. Seemingly Alberich's curse on the Ring is already working!
The gods now intend to celebrate their apparent victory and they prepare to enter Walhall for the first time. After the late events, however, the mood is not exactly too bright. To clear the air Donner calls forth a storm. Lightning and thunder appears on his demand.
Donner [Play this motif]
Froh follows suit and summons forth the rain. The rainbow forms a heavenly bridge for the gods to enter Walhall.
Rainbow [Play this motif]
Wotan is uncertain with regard to what the future will bring. His hope is that the fortress will keep the gods safe and secure.
Wotan's anxiety for the future [Play this motif]
Wotan is struck by a new thought - and what this thought is will not be evident until the next opera, Die Walküre.
Wotan's new thought 1 [Play this motif]
Wotan's new thought 2 [Play this motif]
The Rhinedaughters mourn their lost gold while the gods march across the rainbow and enter Walhall - to the accompaniment of all to pompous music. Loge is ashamed to be associated with the gods. He ironically contemplates changing himself to fire again and consume the entire company.
The End.
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