Scene 1: At the bottom of the River Rhein, the three Rheinmaidens (Woglinde, Wellgunde, and Flosshilde) are playing near the Rheingold; suddenly Alberich, a Nibelung dwarf, appears and tries to woo them. The Rheinmaidens mock the ugly Alberich and anger him. As the sun rises, the maidens praise the golden glow atop a nearby rock; Alberich asks what it is. They tell him of the Rheingold, which they guard. It can be made into a magic ring which will let its bearer rule the world, but only by someone who first renounces love. Alberich, embittered by their mockery, curses love, seizes the gold and returns to the depths as the Rheinmaidens flee in despair.
Scene 2: Wotan, ruler of the Gods, and his wife, Fricka, awaken on the mountaintop to find that their new castle is finished. The giants Fasolt and Fafner have built it in exchange for Fricka's sister Freia, but Wotan plans to renege on his bargain. Fasolt and Fafner enter with Freia, demanding their payment. Donner (god of thunder) and Froh (god of spring) arrived to defend their sister Freia, but Wotan stops them. Loge, the god of fire, enters and informs them that Alberich the dwarf has stolen the Rheingold, and has made a powerful magic ring out of it. The giants demand it as payment in lieu of Freia, who they take as a hostage. The gods need Freia, for without her golden apples of youth, they will age and decay. Wotan and Loge journey deep into the earth to find the ring.
Scene 3: In Nibelheim, Alberich has enslaved the rest of the Nibelung dwarves. He forces his brother Mime, the most skillful smith, to create a magic helmet. Alberich demonstrates its power by making himself invisible. When Wotan and Loge arrive, Mime tells them about the ring and the misery of the Nibelung under Alberich's rule. Alberich returns and boasts to Wotan and Loge about his plans to rule the world, but Loge tricks him into turning himself into a toad with the helmet. The gods quickly seize him and bring him up to the surface.
Scene 4: On the mountaintop, Wotan and Loge force Alberich to exchange his wealth for freedom. He surrenders his gold and the helmet, but when he refuses to give up the ring, Wotan seizes it. Alberich is devastated and lays a curse on the ring: until it returns to him, whoever does not possess it will desire it, and whoever possesses it will receive unhappiness and death. Fasolt and Fafner return with Freia, demanding enough gold to cover her. The gods pile up the gold, but they must relinquish the helmet to cover Freia completely. Fasolt spots a final crack in the pile, and demands the ring as well. Loge reminds everyone that the ring belongs to the Rheinmaidens, but Wotan refuses to give it up. Erda, the earth goddess, suddenly appears and warns Wotan to avoid the cursed ring. Troubled, Wotan surrenders the ring and sets Freia free. The giants, while dividing the treasure, fight over the ring and Fafner kills Fasolt. Wotan realizes the cursed ring has terrible power. At last, the gods prepare to enter their new home, which Wotan names Valhalla. Loge, who knows that the end of the gods is coming, does not follow the others into Valhalla; he is tempted to destroy them and what they have wrongly acquired. Far below, the Rheinmaidens mourn the loss of their gold. The curtain falls.
Performed at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy
DetailsCastCrewSynopsisShowtimes
Conducted by Daniel Barenboim
Directed by Guy Cassiers
Starring René Pape
Sung in German with English subtitles
2 hrs 10 mins with no intermission
Part of Teatro alla Scala
René Pape (Wotan)
Stephan Rügamer (Loge)
Johannes Martin Kraenzle (Alberich)
Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperracke (Mime)
Hanno Müller-Brachmann (Fasolt)
Timo Riihonen (Fafner)
Katharina Kammerloher (Fricka)
Anna Samuil (Freia)
Anna Larsson (Erda)
Conductor: Daniel Barenboim
Staging and Sets: Guy Cassiers
Sets and Lights: Enrico Bagnoli
Costumes:Tim Van Steenbergen
Video: Arjen Clerckx and Kurt d'Haeseleer
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