Das Rheingold

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Das Rheingold

Das Rheingold ("The Rhine Gold") is the first of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen

Der Ring des Nibelungen

Der Ring des Nibelungen is a literature cycle of four epic poetry music dramas by the Germany composer Richard Wagner. The operas are based loosely on characters from the Sagas and the Nibelungenlied....
(The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner

Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, Conducting, theatre director and essayist, primarily known for his operas . Unlike most other great opera composers, Wagner wrote both the scenario and libretto for his works....
. Das Rheingold was originally written as an introduction to the 3 part Ring, however most people usually regard the 4 parts as equals.

It received its premiere at the National Theatre in Munich on 22 September 1869, with August Kindermann in the role of Wotan, Heinrich Vogl as Loge

Loge

Loge can refer to:* Loge, an invented Germanized name for the god Loki in the operas Das Rheingold and Die Walk?re by Richard Wagner and in works derived from them and in commentary on them....
, and Wilhelm Fischer

Wilhelm Fischer

Wilhelm "Willi" Fischer boxing, Germany at the Boxing at the 1992 Summer Olympics Barcelona, Spain. Nicknamed The Ox Ahmed Sarir Jerry Nijman super heavyweight Bulgaria's Svilen Rusinov....
as Alberich

Alberich

Alberich was a legendary Magician who originated in the mythology or epic sagas of the Franks Merovingian Dynasty of the 5th to 8th century AD, and whose name means king of the elves , who possessed the ability to become invisible....
, much to Wagner's disgust, since he wanted this opera to be premiered as part of the entire cycle, however he was forced to allow the performance at the insistence of his patron King Ludwig II of Bavaria

Bavaria

Bavaria , with an area of and almost 12.5 million inhabitants, is a region located in the southeast of Germany and is the largest States of Germany of Germany by area....
.

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Encyclopedia

Das Rheingold ("The Rhine Gold") is the first of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen

Der Ring des Nibelungen

Richard Wagner

Loge

Wilhelm Fischer

Alberich

Bavaria

Bavaria , with an area of and almost 12.5 million inhabitants, is a region located in the southeast of Germany and is the largest States of Germany of Germany by area....
. The opera received its premiere as part of the complete cycle on 13 August 1876, in the Bayreuther Festspielhaus

Bayreuth Festspielhaus

The Bayreuth Festspielhaus is an opera house north of Bayreuth, Germany, dedicated principally to the performance of operas by the 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner....
.

Composition

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast 22 September 1869 (Conductor: Franz Wüllner Franz Wüllner Franz W?llner was a Germany composer and Conducting. He led the premieres of Richard Wagner's operas Das Rheingold and Die Walk?re, but was much criticized by Wagner himself, who greatly preferred the conductors Hans von B?low and Hermann Levi.... )	Cast in premiere of complete cycle 13 August 1876 (Conductor: Hans Richter Hans Richter (conductor) Hans Richter was an Austrian-Hungary conducting. Richter studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna with a particular interest in the horn , and developed his conducting career at several opera-houses in the Austro-Hungarian empire.... )
Gods
Wotan	bass-baritone Bass-baritone A bass-baritone is a high-lying Bass that shares certain qualities with the baritone voice type.The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Richard Wagner roles: the Dutchman in The Flying Dutchman , Wotan/Der Wanderer in the Ring Cycle and Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von N?rnbe...	August Kindermann	Franz Betz
Loge	tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work....	Heinrich Vogl	Heinrich Vogl
Fricka	mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of European classical music female voice type whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above ....	Sophie Stehle	Frederike Grün-Sadler
Freia	soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody....	Henriette Muller	Marie Haupt
Donner	bass-baritone	Karl Samuel Heinrich	Eugen Gura Eugen Gura Eugen Gura was a Germany operatic baritone.Gura was born near Saatz in Bohemia, which is present day Zatec, Czech Republic.He was at first educated for the career of a painter at Vienna and Munich; but later, developing a fine baritone voice, he took up singing and studied it at the Munich Conservatorium....
Froh	tenor	Franz Nachbaur Franz Nachbaur Franz Nachbaur was a famous Germany opera tenor.Born in Giessen, he studied with Francesco Lamperti in Milan and with the celebrated baritone Jan Krtitel Pisek in Stuttgart....	Georg Unger Georg Unger Georg Unger was a Germany tenor most famous for playing Siegfried in Der Ring des Nibelungen written by Richard Wagner.Unger was born in Leipzig in Germany, and as a student studied Theology and music....
Erda	contralto Contralto In music, a contralto is a type of European classical music female voice type with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano. The term is used to refer to the deepest female singing voice....	Emma Seehofer	Luise Jaide
Nibelungs
Alberich	baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of European classical music male voice type that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice....	Karl Fischer	Karl Hill
Mime	tenor	Max Schlosser	Karl Schlosser
Nibelungs
Giants
Fasolt	bass-baritone	Toni Petzer	Albert Eilers
Fafner	bass	Kaspar Bausewein	Franz von Reichenberg
Rhinemaidens
Woglinde	soprano	Anna Kaufmann	Lilli Lehmann Lilli Lehmann Lilli Lehmann was a Germany operatic soprano of phenomenal versatility.The future opera star's father, August Lehmann, was a singer while her mother, Maria Theresia L?w , was a soprano of Jewish origin....
Wellgunde	soprano or mezzo-soprano	Therese Vogl	Marie Lehmann
Flosshilde	mezzo-soprano	Wilhelmine Ritter	Minna Lammert

Synopsis

Scene 1

Das Rheingold begins with a 136-bar

Bar (music)

In musical notation, a bar is a segment of time defined as a given number of beat of a given duration. The word measure is heard more frequently in the United States, while bar is used in other English-speaking countries, although musicians generally understand both usages....
unmodulating prelude

Prelude (music)

A prelude is a short Musical piece of music, the form of which may vary from piece to piece. While, during the Baroque Age, for example, it may have served as an introduction to succeeding movements of a work that were usually longer and more complex, it may also have been a stand alone piece of work during the Romantic Era....
based on the chord of E flat major that is meant to represent the eternal unchanging motions of the River Rhine

Rhine

File:Swiss Grand Canyon.jpgThe Rhine is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe, at , with an average discharge of more than ....
. It is considered the best known drone

Drone (music)

In music, a drone is a harmony or monophony effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout much or all of a piece, sustain or repetition , and most often establishing a tonality upon which the rest of the piece is built....
piece in the concert repertory, lasting approximately four minutes. It was claimed by Wagner in his autobiography Mein Leben that the musical idea came to him while he was half asleep in a hotel in La Spezia

La Spezia

La Spezia is a city in the Liguria region of northern Italy, at the head of La Spezia Gulf, and capital city of the province of La Spezia.It is one of the major Italian military and commercial harbours, located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea....
in Italy, but this has been disputed by Deathridge and others. The music grows in power, and the curtain rises. At the bottom of the River Rhine, the three Rhinemaidens

Rhinemaidens

The Rhinemaidens are the three water-nymphs who appear in Richard Wagner's opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. Their individual names are Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde, although they are generally considered as a single entity and act together accordingly....
(Woglinde, Wellgunde, and Flosshilde) are playing together near the Rheingold. Alberich

Alberich

Nibelung

The German language Nibelungen and the corresponding Old Norse form Niflung is the name in Germanic and Norse mythology of the royal family or lineage of the Burgundians who settled at Worms, Germany....
dwarf

Dwarf

A dwarf is a creature from Continental Germanic mythology, fairy tales, fantasy fiction, and role-playing games. It usually has magical talents, often involving metallurgy....
, appears from a deep chasm and tries to woo them. Struck by Alberich's ugliness, the Rhinemaidens mock his advances and he grows angry. As the sun begins to rise, maidens praise the golden glow atop of a nearby rock, Alberich asks what it is. The Rhinemaidens tell him about the Rhinegold, which their father has ordered them to guard: it can be made into a magic Ring

Andvarinaut

In Norse mythology, Andvarinaut is a magical ring capable of producing gold, first owned by Andvari.The mischievous norse god Loki tricked Andvari into giving Andvarinaut to him....
which will let its bearer rule the world, but only by someone who first renounces love. They think they have nothing to fear from the lustful dwarf, but Alberich, embittered by their mockery, curses love, seizes the gold and returns to the depths, as the Rhinemaidens flee in despair.

Scene 2

Wotan

Odin

Odin , is considered the chief ?sir in Norse paganism. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxons Woden and the Old High German Wotan, it is descended from Proto-Germanic *Wodanaz or *Wodanaz....
, ruler of the Gods, is asleep on a mountaintop with Fricka

Frigg

Frigg is a major goddess in Norse paganism, a subset of Germanic paganism. She is said to be the wife of Odin, and is the "foremost among the goddesses"....
, his wife. Fricka awakes and sees a magnificent castle behind them. She wakes Wotan and points out that their new home has been completed. The giants Fasolt and Fafner

Fafnir

In Norse mythology, F?fnir or Fr?nir was a son of the Norse dwarves king Hreidmar and brother of Regin and ?tr. In the Volsunga saga, F?fnir was a dwarf gifted with a powerful arm and fearless soul....
built the castle; in exchange Wotan has offered them Fricka's sister Freia

Freya

Freyja is a major goddess in Norse paganism, a subset of Germanic paganism. Because the documented source of this religious tradition, the Norse mythology, was transmitted and altered by Christian medieval historians, the actual role, heathen practices and worship of the goddess are uncertain....
, the goddess of youth and beauty. Fricka is worried for her sister, but Wotan is confident that they will not have to give Freia away.

Freia enters, terrified, followed by Fasolt and Fafner. Fasolt demands payment for their finished work. He points out that Wotan's rule is sustained by the treaties carved into his spear, including his contract with the giants. Donner

Thor

Thor is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder in Germanic mythology and Germanic paganism, and its subsets: Norse paganism, Anglo-Saxon paganism and Continental Germanic mythology....
(god of thunder) and Froh

Freyr

Freyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with agriculture, weather and, as a phallus fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"....
(god of spring) arrive to defend their sister Freia, but Wotan stops them; he cannot stop the giants by force and renege on their agreement.

To Wotan's relief, Loge

Loki

File:Loke og Sigyn by Eckersberg.jpgIn Norse mythology, Loki is a ?ss or j?tunn . Loki's relation with the gods varies by source. Loki assists the gods, and sometimes causes problems for them....
(the fire god) makes his entrance; Wotan has placed his hopes on Loge's cunning to find a way out of the bargain. Loge tells them that Alberich the dwarf has stolen the Rheingold and made a powerful magic ring out of it. Wotan, Fricka, and the giants all begin to lust after the Ring, and Loge curtly suggests the best method of acquiring it: "Durch Raub!" ("Through theft!"). Fafner demands it as payment in lieu of Freia. The giants depart, taking Freia with them as hostage.

Freia's golden apple

Golden apple

The golden apple is an element that appears in some countries' legends or fairy tales. Usually, a hero has to retrieve the golden apple s hidden or stolen by an antagonist like a dragon or other monster....
s had kept the Gods eternally young; with her absence, they begin to age and weaken. In order to win Freia back, Wotan is forced to follow Loge down into the earth, in pursuit of the ring.

An orchestral interlude follows that "paints" the descent of Loge and Wotan into Nibelheim. As the orchestra fades, it gives way to a choir of 18 tuned anvil

Anvil

An anvil is a manufacturing tool, made of a hard and massive block of stone or metal used as a support for chiseling and hammering other objects, such as in forging iron and steel items....
s (indicated in the score with specific size, quantity and pitch) beating out the dotted rhythm of the Nibelung theme to give a stark depiction of the toiling of the enslaved dwarves.

Scene 3

In Nibelheim, Alberich has enslaved the rest of the Nibelung dwarves. He has forced his brother Mime

Mímir

M?mir or Mim is a figure in Norse mythology renowned for his knowledge and wisdom who is beheaded during the ?sir-Vanir War. Afterward, the major god Odin carries around M?mir's head and it recites secret knowledge and council to him....
, the most skillful smith, to create a magic helmet, the Tarnhelm

Tarnhelm

Tarnhelm is the name of a magic helmet in Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. It is used as a cloak of invisibility by Alberich in Das Rheingold....
. Alberich demonstrates the Tarnhelm's power by making himself invisible, the better to torment his subjects.

Wotan and Loge arrive and happen upon Mime, who tells them about Alberich's forging of the ring and the misery of the Nibelung under his rule. Alberich returns, driving his slaves to pile up a huge mound of gold. When they have finished, he dismisses them and turns his attention to the two visitors. He boasts to them about his plans to rule the world. Loge tricks him into demonstrating the magic of the Tarnhelm by having him transform into a snake (or dragon - the German word Wurm can mean both). Loge points out that it might be better to transform into a small creature in order to escape danger more easily, so Alberich turns into a toad. While he is a toad, the two 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 his freedom. They untie his right hand, and he uses the ring to summon his Nibelung slaves, who bring the hoard of gold. After the gold has been delivered, he asks for the return of the Tarnhelm, but Loge says that it is part of his ransom. Finally, Wotan asks him to surrender the ring. Alberich refuses, but Wotan seizes it from his finger and puts it on his own. Alberich is crushed by his loss, and before he leaves he lays a curse on the ring: until it returns to him, whoever does not possess it will desire it, and whoever possesses it will suffer unhappiness and death.

Fricka, Donner, and Froh arrive and are greeted by Wotan and Loge, who show them the gold that will ransom Freia. Fasolt and Fafner return, carrying Freia. Reluctant to release Freia, Fasolt insists that there must be enough gold to hide her from view. They pile up the gold, and Wotan is forced to relinquish the Tarnhelm to help cover Freia completely. However, Fasolt spots a final crack in the gold, and demands that Wotan also yield the ring. Loge reminds all present that the ring is rightly property of the Rhinemaidens. Wotan refuses to relinquish it, to Loge's displeasure, and the giants prepare to abduct Freia.

Suddenly, Erda the earth goddess, a primeval goddess in many ways superior to Wotan, appears out of the ground. She warns Wotan of impending doom and urges him to avoid the cursed ring. Troubled, Wotan surrenders the ring and sets Freia free. The giants start dividing the treasure, but they argue over the ring. Fafner clubs Fasolt to death and leaves with all the loot. Wotan, horrified, realizes that Alberich's curse has terrible power.

At last, the gods prepare to enter their new home. Donner summons a thunderstorm to clear the air. After the storm has ended, Froh creates a rainbow bridge that stretches to the gate of the castle. Wotan leads them across the bridge to the castle, which he names Valhalla

Valhalla

In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field F?lkvangr....
. Fricka asks him about the name, and he replies that its meaning will be revealed if all goes well.

Loge, who knows that the end of the gods is coming, does not follow the others into Valhalla; he admits he is tempted to destroy them and what they have deceitfully acquired. Far below, the Rhinemaidens mourn the loss of their gold. The curtain falls.

Noted Excerpts

Prelude
Rhinemaidens' Song
Loge's Narration
Descent and Ascent from Nibelheim
Alberich's Curse
Erda's Warning
Donner's Song (Heda! Heda hedo!)
Rainbow Bridge Music
Entry of the Gods into Valhalla

Selected recordings

Year	Cast (Alberich, Wotan, Fricka, Loge, Freia, Fasolt, Fafner, Donner, Froh, Erda, Mime)	Conductor Orchestra	Label Catalog # Mono/Stereo, Live/Studio
1953	Gustav Neidlinger Gustav Neidlinger Gustav Neidlinger was a German people bass-baritone. He was born in Mainz and died in Bad Ems. He studied in Frankfurt and debuted in 1931 in Mainz.... , Ferdinand Frantz Ferdinand Frantz Ferdinand Frantz , was a Germany opera Bass . He was well-known in his time for his performances in the operas of Richard Wagner.Frantz's first role was in Kassel in 1927, playing Hermann Ortel in a production of Wagner's Die Meistersinger.... , Ira Malaniuk Ira Malaniuk Ira Malaniuk She studied first in Lviv with Adam Didur, and later in Vienna with Anna Bahr-Mildenburg. She made her stage debut in Graz in 1945.... , Wolfgang Windgassen Wolfgang Windgassen Wolfgang Windgassen was a tenor internationally known for his performances in Richard Wagner operas.Born in Annemasse, France, he was the son of a well known Heldentenor, Fritz Windgassen .... , Elisabeth Grümmer Elisabeth Grümmer Elisabeth Schilz Gr?mmer was a Germany operatic soprano.She was born at Niederjeutz, near Diedenhofen, Alsace-Lorraine to German parents. In 1918, her family were expelled from Lorraine, and they settled in Meiningen, where she studied theater and made her stage debut as Kl?rchen in Goethe's Egmont .... , Josef Greindl Josef Greindl Josef Greindl was a German bass.Josef Greindl studied at the Munich Music Academy with Paul Bender. His debut was in 1936, as Hunding in richard Wagner's Die Walk?re in the State Theatre in Krefeld.... , Gottlob Frick Gottlob Frick Gottlob Frick was a German basso who sang in opera. He was known for his wide repertory including Richard Wagner and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart roles, as well as those of Carl Otto Nicolai and Albert Lortzing.... , Alfred Poell, Lorenz Fehenberger Lorenz Fehenberger Lorenz Fehenberger was a German operatic tenor, particularly associated with the German and Italian repertories.Fehenberger began singing as a boy in a church choir, later studying voice with Elisabeth Wolff in Munich.... , Ruth Siewert, Julius Patzak Julius Patzak Julius Patzak was an Austrian tenor distinguished in operatic and concert work. He was particularly noted in Mozart, Beethoven and in early 20th century German repertoire....	Wilhelm Furtwängler Wilhelm Furtwängler Wilhelm Furtw?ngler was a German Conducting and composer.... Orchestra Sonfonica e Coro della RAI Raï Ra? is a form of traditional music that originated in Oran, Algeria, and then in Oujda from Bedouin shepherds, mixed with Music of Spain, Music of France, African music and Arabic musical forms, which dates back to the 1930s and has been primarily evolved by women in the culture....	CD: EMI EMI The EMI Group is a United Kingdom music company comprising the major record label EMI Music ? which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in London, England, United Kingdom ? and EMI Music Publishing, based in New York City.... Cat: CZS 7 67124 2 Mono, Live
1958	Gustav Neidlinger Gustav Neidlinger Gustav Neidlinger was a German people bass-baritone. He was born in Mainz and died in Bad Ems. He studied in Frankfurt and debuted in 1931 in Mainz.... , George London, Kirsten Flagstad Kirsten Flagstad Kirsten M?lfrid Flagstad was a Norway opera singer, one of the greatest Richard Wagner sopranos of the 20th century.A restrained and expressive stage performer, she was admired internationally for her voice's sheer tonal beauty, power, stamina, security and consistency of line and tone.... , Set Svanholm Set Svanholm Set Svanholm was a Swedish operatic tenor, considered the leading Tristan und Isolde and Siegfried of the first decade following World War II.... , Claire Watson Claire Watson Claire Watson was an American soprano, particularly associated with Wolfgang Mozart and Richard Strauss roles.Born Claire McLamore, she studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, and later privately with Elisabeth Schumann and Sergius Kagen, in New York.... , Walter Kreppel, Kurt Böhme Kurt Böhme Kurt B?hme was a Germany Basso.He was born in Dresden, Germany, where he studied with Adolf Kluge at the Dresden Conservatory. He made his debut in 1930 in Bautzen as Kaspar, one of his most important roles further on.... , Eberhard Wächter Eberhard Waechter (baritone) Eberhard W?chter was an Austrian baritone, particularly celebrated for his performances in the operas of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard Wagner, and Richard Strauss.... , Waldemar Kmentt Waldemar Kmentt Waldemar Kmentt is an Austrian operatic tenor, particularly associated with the German repertory, both opera and operetta.He studied at the Vienna Music Academy first the piano, and later voice with Adolf Vogel, Elisabeth Rad? and Hans Duhan.... , Jean Madeira, Paul Kuen Paul Kuen Paul Kuen was a Germany operatic tenor particularly known for his portrayals of character roles such as Mime in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen....	Georg Solti Georg Solti Sir Georg Solti, Order of the British Empire was a Hungary-United Kingdom orchestral and operatic Conducting.... Wiener Philharmoniker	CD: Decca Cat: 455 556-2 Stereo, Studio
1966	Gustav Neidlinger Gustav Neidlinger Gustav Neidlinger was a German people bass-baritone. He was born in Mainz and died in Bad Ems. He studied in Frankfurt and debuted in 1931 in Mainz.... , Theo Adam Theo Adam File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1023-055, Berlin, 750-Jahr-Feier, Staatsakt, Konzert, Adam.jpgTheo Adam is a distinguished bass-baritone opera singer, born on August 1, 1926, in Dresden, Germany.... , Annelies Burmeister, Wolfgang Windgassen Wolfgang Windgassen Wolfgang Windgassen was a tenor internationally known for his performances in Richard Wagner operas.Born in Annemasse, France, he was the son of a well known Heldentenor, Fritz Windgassen .... , Anja Silja Anja Silja Anna Silja Regina Langwagen, born April 17, 1940, in Berlin, is a Germany soprano who is known for her great abilities as a singing-actress and for the vastness of her repertoire.... , Martti Talvela Martti Talvela Martti Talvela was a Finland operatic Bass .Born in Hiitola, Finland, he studied in Lahti and Stockholm, and made his operatic debut in Helsinki in 1960 as Rigoletto.... , Kurt Böhme Kurt Böhme Kurt B?hme was a Germany Basso.He was born in Dresden, Germany, where he studied with Adolf Kluge at the Dresden Conservatory. He made his debut in 1930 in Bautzen as Kaspar, one of his most important roles further on.... , Gerd Nienstedt, Hermin Esser, Vera Soukupova, Erwin Wohlfahrt	Karl Böhm Karl Böhm Karl August Leopold B?hm was an Austrian Conducting.... Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele	CD: Philips Philips Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , usually known as Philips, is a Netherlands electronics company. It is one of the largest electronics companies in the world, founded and headquartered in the Netherlands.... Cat: 412 475-2 Stereo, Live
1967	Zoltán Kelemen, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau The German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is a German singer and conductor of classical music, one of the most famous lieder singers of his generation.... , Josephine Veasey Josephine Veasey Josephine Veasey is a British mezzo-soprano, particularly associated with Wagner and Berliozroles.... , Gerhard Stolze Gerhard Stolze Gerhard Stolze was a German tenor.A fach#Tenor F?cher tenor best known as a Richard Wagner singer. His most famous roles were Mime , David , Loge , Aegisth and Herod .... , Simone Mangelsdorff, Martti Talvela Martti Talvela Martti Talvela was a Finland operatic Bass .Born in Hiitola, Finland, he studied in Lahti and Stockholm, and made his operatic debut in Helsinki in 1960 as Rigoletto.... , Karl Ridderbusch Karl Ridderbusch Karl Ridderbusch was a German operatic bass .... , Robert Kerns Robert Kerns Robert Kerns was an American baritone, he was a stylish and versatile singer with a wide repertoire.... , Donald Grobe, Oralia Dominguez Oralia Dominguez Oralia Dominguez is a Mexico operatic mezzo-soprano who has performed at many of the world's leading opera houses.She was born in the city of San Luis Potos?, San Luis Potos? in northern Mexico and studied at the National Conservatory of Music where she made the acquaintance of the composer Carlos Chavez who championed her career.... , Erwin Wohlfahrt	Herbert von Karajan Herbert von Karajan Herbert von Karajan was an Austrian orchestra and opera conducting, one of the most renowned 20th-century conductors. His obituary in The New York Times described him as "probably the world's best-known conductor and one of the most powerful figures in classical music." Karajan conducted the Berlin Philharmonic for thirty-five years.... Berliner Philharmoniker	CD: Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon is a Germany classical record label, now part of the Universal Music Group. The company has long been known for its high standards of high fidelity.... Cat: 457 781-2 Stereo, Studio
1980	Hermann Becht, Donald McIntyre Donald McIntyre Sir Donald McIntyre is a celebrated operatic bass-baritone. He made his formal debut as Zaccaria in Nabucco, at the Welsh National Opera, in 1959.... , Hanna Schwarz Hanna Schwarz Hanna Schwarz, born 15 August 1943, is a German mezzo-soprano and contralto opera singer. She made her debut in 1970, in the role of Maddalena in Verdi's Rigoletto, at Hannover.... , Heinz Zednik Heinz Zednik Heinz Zednik is an Austrian operatic tenor, closely associated with the character tenor roles of Richard Wagner such as Mime and Loge and David .... , Carmen Reppel, Matti Salminen Matti Salminen Matti Salminen is a Finnish bass singer who has sung in all of the most important opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera and Bayreuth Festival.... , Fritz Hübner, Martin Egel, Siegfried Jerusalem Siegfried Jerusalem Siegfried Jerusalem is a German operatic tenor. Closely identified with the Tenor#Heldentenor roles of Richard Wagner, he has performed Siegfried, Siegmund, Lohengrin, Parsifal and Tristan to wide acclaim.... , Ortrun Wenkel, Helmut Pampuch	Pierre Boulez Pierre Boulez Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music and Conducting.... Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele	CD: Philips Philips Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , usually known as Philips, is a Netherlands electronics company. It is one of the largest electronics companies in the world, founded and headquartered in the Netherlands.... Cat: 434 422-2 Stereo, Studio
1988	Ekkehard Wlaschiha, James Morris, Christa Ludwig Christa Ludwig Christa Ludwig is a Germany retired mezzo-soprano, distinguished for her performances of opera and Lieder. Her career spanned from the late 1940s until the early 1990s.... , Siegfried Jerusalem Siegfried Jerusalem Siegfried Jerusalem is a German operatic tenor. Closely identified with the Tenor#Heldentenor roles of Richard Wagner, he has performed Siegfried, Siegmund, Lohengrin, Parsifal and Tristan to wide acclaim.... , MarieAnne Häggander, Kurt Moll Kurt Moll Kurt Moll is a German operatic Basso.Moll was born in Buir, near Cologne, Germany. As a child, he played the cello and hoped to become a great cellist.... , Jan-Hendrik Rootering Jan-Hendrik Rootering Jan-Hendrik Rootering is a Germany-born bass-baritone, son of the Netherlands tenor Hendrikus Rootering from whom he had his first lessons. After further study at Hamburg's Musikhochschule he began singing minor roles with the Hamburg State Opera and made a debut at the Bavarian State Opera in 1982 as the Spirit Messenger in Die Frau o... , Siegfried Lorenz, Mark Baker, Birgitta Svendén Birgitta Svendén Birgitta Svend?n , is a Sweden operatic .Svend?n, who was born in Porjus and raised in Vuollerim, studied at the Opera in Stockholm. She has made an international career in the first place as a Wagner singer, especially at the Bayreuth Festival.... , Heinz Zednik Heinz Zednik Heinz Zednik is an Austrian operatic tenor, closely associated with the character tenor roles of Richard Wagner such as Mime and Loge and David ....	James Levine James Levine James Lawrence Levine is an United States orchestral conducting and piano. He is currently the music director of the Metropolitan Opera and of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.... Metropolitan Opera Orchestra	CD: Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon is a Germany classical record label, now part of the Universal Music Group. The company has long been known for its high standards of high fidelity.... Cat: 445 295-2 Stereo, Studio
1989	Theo Adam Theo Adam File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-1023-055, Berlin, 750-Jahr-Feier, Staatsakt, Konzert, Adam.jpgTheo Adam is a distinguished bass-baritone opera singer, born on August 1, 1926, in Dresden, Germany.... , James Morris, Marjana Lipovšek Marjana Lipovšek Marjana Lipov?ek is an opera and concert singer and actress. The daughter of composer Marijan Lipov?ek, she was born on December 3, 1946 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.... , Heinz Zednik Heinz Zednik Heinz Zednik is an Austrian operatic tenor, closely associated with the character tenor roles of Richard Wagner such as Mime and Loge and David .... , Eva Johansson, Hans Tschammer, Kurt Rydl, Andreas Schmidt, Peter Seiffert Peter Seiffert Peter Seiffert is a German tenor.... , Jadwiga Rappé, Peter Haage	Bernard Haitink Bernard Haitink Bernard Johan Herman Haitink Order of the Companions of Honour Order of the British Empire is a Netherlands conducting and violinist.... Sinfonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra is the internationally renowned orchestra of the Bayerischer Rundfunk , based in Munich, Germany. It is one of the three principal orchestras in the city of Munich, along with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bavarian State Orchestra....	CD: EMI EMI The EMI Group is a United Kingdom music company comprising the major record label EMI Music ? which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in London, England, United Kingdom ? and EMI Music Publishing, based in New York City.... Cat: CDS 7 49853 2 Stereo, Studio

Resources

All artwork by Arthur Rackham
Arthur Rackham

File:Giants and Freia.jpgArthur Rackham was an English book illustrator....
, 1910.

External links

. A gallery of historic postcards with motifs from Richard Wagner's operas.

Das Rheingold

Composition

Roles

Synopsis

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Noted Excerpts

Selected recordings

Resources

External links

See also

Source notes