Classical Music / Opera
Siegfried is the third of the four operas that comprise Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). It was first performed at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, Germany, on 16 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of The Ring. Hans Richter conducted.
Siegfried, the opera, incorporates an earlier symphonic poem music of Wagner, Siegfried Idyll, which he composed for his wife, Cosima.
This part of Siegfried opera is primarily inspired by the story of the legendary hero Sigurd in the Norse mythology.
Act I. Cave in the Forest
Scene 1. Alberich's brother, Mime, rears Siegfried after his mother Sieglinde's death. Mime wants the ring and the gold, which are being guarded by Fafner, disguised as a dragon. Unfortunately, Mime could not reforge the broken sword of Siegfried's father, Siegmund. Scene 2. Wotan the wanderer visits Mime and agrees to answer his questions. Scene 3. Siegfried returns and reforges the sword.
Scene 1. Finding Alberich keeping vigil by Fafner's cave, Wotan tells the dwarf that Siegfried is coming to slay Fafner.
Scene 2. Mime brought Siegfried to the den to learn fear, but Siegfried is unmoved and kills Fafner.
Scene 3. The dragon's blood gives Siegfried the power to hear people's thoughts. He soon realizes that Mime means to kill him. Siegfried kills Mime first and follows a wood bird to the rock where Brunnhilde lies, surounded by a ring of fire.
Scene 1. Wotan consults Erda.
Scene 2. He meets Siegfried and is annoyed by Siegfried's arrogance. Siegfried breaks Wotan's spear to get to Brunnhilde.
Scene 3. At the summit of Brunnhilde's rock, Siegfried makes his way through the ring of fire, awakens Brunnhilde, and falls in love with her.
Related Articles:
Video Credit:
Wagner Siegfried. Richard Wagner. Siegfried. Adam Fischer/Vienna State Opera, 2016. Youtube, uploaded by Randall G. Malmstrom. Accessed April 20, 2023.
The Da Capo Opera by Nicholas Ivor Martin, Da Capo Press (1997).
Wagner Opera Siegfried: Plot, Synopsis and Character Descriptions of a German Opera
Siegfried is the third of the four operas that comprise Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). It was first performed at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, Germany, on 16 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of The Ring. Hans Richter conducted.
Siegfried, the opera, incorporates an earlier symphonic poem music of Wagner, Siegfried Idyll, which he composed for his wife, Cosima.
This part of Siegfried opera is primarily inspired by the story of the legendary hero Sigurd in the Norse mythology.
The opera in 3 Acts.
Major Characters Roles
- Mime (tenor)
- Siegfried (tenor)
- Wanderer/Wotan (bass baritone)
- Brunnhilde (dramatic soprano)
Minor Character Roles
- Alberich (bass)
- Fafner (bass)
- Forest Bird Voice (soprano)
- Erda (contralto)
Synopsis of Wagner's Opera Siegfried
Act I. Cave in the Forest
Scene 1. Alberich's brother, Mime, rears Siegfried after his mother Sieglinde's death. Mime wants the ring and the gold, which are being guarded by Fafner, disguised as a dragon. Unfortunately, Mime could not reforge the broken sword of Siegfried's father, Siegmund. Scene 2. Wotan the wanderer visits Mime and agrees to answer his questions. Scene 3. Siegfried returns and reforges the sword.
Act II. The Depths of the Forest
Scene 1. Finding Alberich keeping vigil by Fafner's cave, Wotan tells the dwarf that Siegfried is coming to slay Fafner.
Scene 2. Mime brought Siegfried to the den to learn fear, but Siegfried is unmoved and kills Fafner.
Scene 3. The dragon's blood gives Siegfried the power to hear people's thoughts. He soon realizes that Mime means to kill him. Siegfried kills Mime first and follows a wood bird to the rock where Brunnhilde lies, surounded by a ring of fire.
Act III. Scene 1 and 2. Wild area at the foot of a rocky mountain. Scene3. Brunnhilde's rock
Scene 1. Wotan consults Erda.
Scene 2. He meets Siegfried and is annoyed by Siegfried's arrogance. Siegfried breaks Wotan's spear to get to Brunnhilde.
Scene 3. At the summit of Brunnhilde's rock, Siegfried makes his way through the ring of fire, awakens Brunnhilde, and falls in love with her.
Related Articles:
- In This ‘Ring,’ Wagner Gets a Touch of Marx by Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, May 15, 2009. Accessed August 16, 2011.
Video Credit:
Wagner Siegfried. Richard Wagner. Siegfried. Adam Fischer/Vienna State Opera, 2016. Youtube, uploaded by Randall G. Malmstrom. Accessed April 20, 2023.
Resource:
The Da Capo Opera by Nicholas Ivor Martin, Da Capo Press (1997).
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