Overview
Synopsis
Siegfried is now in possession of the Ring of power, forged by Alberich from the Rhinegold. Unknown to him, others now covet the Ring of power, which gives its owner dominion over all. After consummating his relationship with Brünnhilde, Siegfried’s path takes him to the kingdom of the Gibichungs, but he is unaware of their desire for the Ring. They will stop at nothing to claim it from Siegfried. Gunther, the ruler of the Gibichungs, and his half-brother Hagen, devise a plan to claim the Ring for their own, along with Brünnhilde as Gunther’s wife, and Siegfried as his sister’s husband.
When the plan starts to break down, Hagen decides to kill Siegfried instead, and claim the Ring for himself. Whilst out on a hunting expedition, he stabs Siegfried in the back with his spear. Siegfried’s body is carried back to the Hall of the Gibichungs, and the broken-hearted and betrayed Brünnhilde gives him a hero’s send off, in the form of a funeral pyre. In an act of self-immolation, Brünnhilde leaps into the fire, to be reunited with Siegfried in death.
As the funeral pyre floats on the river, the Rhinemaidens come back to claim what is rightfully theirs, and take the Ring back to the depths of the Rhine. This signals the end for the gods, and Wotan burns Valhalla to the ground, taking down all the gods and heroes with it.
The final piece in Wagner’s epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, Götterdämmerung brings this grand fantasy story to its dramatic end. The world is reborn in fire and flood, as the Ring of power is returned to its watery home at the bottom of the Rhine.
Show Information
- Music
- Richard Wagner
- Libretto
- Richard Wagner
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1876
- Genres
- Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Mythological, Germany, River Rhein
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
When Wagner began to write what later became the epic Der Ring des Nibelungen, he actually started at the end. He began with Siegfried’s Funeral March, which occurs in the final act of Götterdämmerung, but he realised that alone was not enough to tell the story. He had to tell the story of how Siegfried got to this point, and the events that led to his death. Gradually, the work that came together was the four opera cycle, commonly known as The Ring Cycle, or 'Wagner’s Ring'.
This
to read the context for Götterdämmerung and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
The events of this opera begins immediately after the end of Siegfried. Brünnhilde and Siegfried have spent the night in a cave on the mountainside, consummating their relationship.
Act One
The three Norns, Erda’s daughters, have the responsibilities of weaving the rope of wisdom, which records everything Erda sees happening in the world. They do this every night, but tonight something unusual is happening. They appear on the mountainside where
to read the plot for Götterdämmerung and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Contralto, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
Songs
Prologue
-
Prelude
-
"Welch Licht leuchtet dort?" - Three Norns
-
Interlude
-
"Zu neuen Taten, teurer Helde, wie liebt' ich dich, ließ ich dich nicht?" - Brünnhilde
-
"Mehr gabst du, Wunderfrau, als ich zu wahren weiss" - Siegfried, Brünnhilde
-
Orchestral Interlude - Siegfried’s Rhine Journey
Act One
Scene One
-
"Nun hör, Hagen, sage mir, Held" - Gunther, Hagen, Gutrune
-
"Was weckst du Zweifel und Zwist!" - Gunther, Hagen, Gutrune
-
"Vom Rhein her tönt das Horn" - Gunther, Hagen
Scene Two
-
"Heil! Siegfried, teurer Held!" - Hagen, Siegfried, Gunther
-
"Begrüsse froh, o Held, die Halle meines Vaters" - Gunther
-
"Willkommen, Gast, in Gibichs Haus!" - Gutrune, Siegfried, Gunther
-
"Hast du, Gunther, ein Weib?" - Gunther, Siegfried, Hagen
-
"Blut-Brüderschaft schwöre ein Eid!" - Siegfried, Gunther, Hagen
Scene Three
-
Interlude
-
"Altgewohntes Geräusch raunt meinem Ohr die Ferne" - Brünnhilde, Waltraute
-
“Welche banger Traume Maren” - Brünnhilde, Waltraute
-
"Blitzend Gewölk, vom Wind getragen, stürme dahin" - Brünnhilde
-
"Jetzt bist du mein, Brünnhilde, Gunthers Braut" - Siegfried, Brünnhilde
Act Two
Scene One
- "Schläfst du, Hagen, mein Sohn?" - Alberich, Hagen
Scene Two
- "Hoiho Hagen! Müder Mann!" - Siegfried, Hagen, Gunther, Gutrune
Scene Three
- "Hoiho! Hoihohoho! Ihr Gibichsmannen, machet euch auf!" - Hagen, Chorus
Scene Four
-
"Heil dir, Gunther! Heil dir und deiner Braut!" - Chorus
-
"Brünnhild', die hehrste Frau" - Gunther
-
"Was ist ihr? Ist sie entrückt?" - Chorus, Siegfried, Brünnhilde, Gunther, Hagen
-
"Achtest du so der eigenen Ehre?" - Siegfried, Brünnhilde, Chorus, Gunther, Gutrune, Hagen
-
"Helle Wehr! Heilige Waffe! Hilf meinem ewigen Eide!" - Siegfried, Brünnhilde, Chorus
Scene Five
-
"Welchen Unholds List liegt hier verhohlen?" - Brünnhilde. Hagen
-
"Dir hilft kein Hirn, dir hilft keine Hand" - Brünnhilde, Hagen, Gunther
-
"Muss sein Tod sie betrüben, verhehlt sei ihr die Tat" - Brünnhilde, Hagen, Gunther
Act Three
Scene One
-
Prelude
-
"Frau Sonne sendet lichte Strahlen" - Rhinemaidens
-
"Ich höre sein Horn" - Rhinemaidens, Siegfried
-
"Was leid' ich doch das karge Lob?" - Rhinemaidens, Siegfried
Scene Two
-
"Hoiho! Finden wir endlich, wohin du flogest?" - Hagen, Chorus, Siegfried
-
"Mime hiess ein mürrischer Zwerg" - Siegfried, Chorus, Hagen
-
"Was hör' ich!" - Gunther, Hagen, Siegfried, Chorus
-
Trauermarsch (Funeral March)
-
"War das sein Horn?" - Gutrune, Hagen
-
"Schweigt eures Jammers jauchzenden Schwall" - Brünnhilde, Gutrune
-
"Fliegt heim, ihr Raben!" - Brünnhilde
-
"Zurück vom Ring!" - Hagen
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.