Siegfried (opera): Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

Siegfried (opera)

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Role	Voice type	Premiere cast, 16 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.... )
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	Topics Siegfried (opera) Topic Home *Siegfried* is the third of the four opera Opera Opera is an Performing arts in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work which combines a text and a musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition.... s 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.... . It received its premiere at the Bayreuth 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.... on 16 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of The Ring. le class="wikitable">
Siegfried	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....	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....
Mime	tenor	Karl Schlosser
The Wanderer	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...	Franz Betz
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 Hill
Fafner	bass	Franz von Reichenberg
Waldvogel (forest bird)	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....	Marie Haupt
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....	Luise Jaide
Brünnhilde	soprano	Amalia Materna

lass="link1" onMouseover='showByLink("m93631",this)' onMouseout='hide("m93631")'href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/MIME">Mime

MIME

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions is an Internet standard that extends the format of electronic mail to support:* Text in character sets other than ASCII...
, 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....
's brother, is forging

Forge

A forge is the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith. A forge is sometimes referred to as a smithy.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals....
a blade in his cave within the forest.

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Encyclopedia

Siegfried is the third of the four opera

Opera

Opera is an Performing arts in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work which combines a text and a musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition....
s 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....
. It received its premiere at the Bayreuth 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....
on 16 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of The Ring.

Composition

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere cast, 16 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.... )
Siegfried	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....	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....
Mime	tenor	Karl Schlosser
The Wanderer	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...	Franz Betz
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 Hill
Fafner	bass	Franz von Reichenberg
Waldvogel (forest bird)	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....	Marie Haupt
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....	Luise Jaide
Brünnhilde	soprano	Amalia Materna

Synopsis

Act 1

Mime

MIME

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions is an Internet standard that extends the format of electronic mail to support:* Text in character sets other than ASCII...
, Alberich

Alberich

Forge

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....
is plotting to obtain the 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....
for himself, having raised Siegfried to kill Fafner

FAFNER

Sword

A sword is a long, edged piece of metal, used as a cutting, thrusting, and clubbing weapon in many civilizations throughout the world. The word sword comes from the Old English language wikt:sweord, cognate to Old High German swert, Middle Dutch swaert, Old Norse sver? Old Frisian and Old Saxon swerd and Dutch langua...
for Siegfried to use, but the youth has broken every blade he has made. Siegfried returns from his wanderings in the forest, demanding to know his parentage, and Mime is forced to explain how he took in Siegfried's mother, Sieglinde

Signy

Signy or Signe is the name of two heroines in two connected legends from Scandinavian mythology which were very popular in medieval Scandinavia....
, who died giving birth. He shows Siegfried the shards of Nothung, and Siegfried orders him to reforge the sword.

Siegfried departs, leaving Mime in despair: it is beyond his skill to repair Nothung. An old man (Wotan in disguise) abruptly appears at his door. The Wanderer wagers his head on answering any three riddle

Riddle

A riddle is a statement or question having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. Riddles are of two types: enigmas, which are problems generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that require ingenuity and careful thinking for their solution, and conundrums, which are questions relying for the...
s from Mime, and Mime agrees in order to dispose of his unwelcome guest. He asks the Wanderer to name the races that live beneath the ground, on the surface, and the skies. These are the Nibelung, the Giants, and the Gods

Æsir

In Old Norse, ?ss is the term denoting a member of the principal groups of gods of the List of Norse gods of Norse paganism. They include many of the major figures, such as Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Tyr....
, as the Wanderer correctly answers. Now Mime is forced to wager his own head on answering the Wanderer's riddles. The Wanderer asks him to name the race most beloved of Wotan, but most harshly treated; the name of the blade that can destroy Fafner; and the person who can make the blade. Mime gives the answer to the first two riddles: the Wälsungs and Nothung. However, he is unable to answer the last riddle. Wotan spares Mime, telling him that only "he who does not know fear" can reforge Nothung, and leaves Mime's head forfeit to that person.

Siegfried returns and is annoyed by Mime's lack of progress. Mime realizes that the one thing he has not taught Siegfried is fear. Siegfried is eager to learn it, and Mime promises to teach him by bringing him to Fafner

FAFNER

Factoring via Network-Enabled Recursion was a 1995 project trying to solve the RSA-130 factoring problem.It was an internet-based sieving effort from Cooperating Systems Corporation....
the dragon. Since Mime was unable to forge Nothung, Siegfried decides to do it himself. He succeeds by shredding the metal, melting it, and casting it anew. In the meantime, Mime, realizing that by the terms of his agreement with the Wanderer his head is now forfeit to Siegfried, brews a poisoned drink to offer Siegfried after the youth has defeated the dragon.

Act 2

The Wanderer arrives at the entrance to Fafner's cave, where Alberich is keeping a vigil. The old enemies quickly recognize each other. Alberich blusters, boasting of his plans for ruling the World once the Ring is returned to him. Wotan calmly states that he does not intend to obtain the Ring. To Alberich's surprise, Wotan wakes Fafner and informs the dragon that a hero is coming to fight him. Fafner dismisses the threat, refuses to surrender the Ring to Alberich, and returns to sleep. Both Wotan and Alberich depart.

At daybreak, Siegfried and Mime arrive. Mime decides to draw back while Siegfried confronts the dragon. As Siegfried waits for the dragon to appear, he notices a woodbird in a tree. Befriending it, he attempts to mimic the bird's song using a reed pipe, but is unsuccessful. He then plays a tune on his horn

Horn (instrument)

The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. It is descended from the natural horn and is informally known as the French horn....
, which brings Fafner out of his cave. After a short exchange, they fight, and Siegfried stabs Fafner

FAFNER

Factoring via Network-Enabled Recursion was a 1995 project trying to solve the RSA-130 factoring problem.It was an internet-based sieving effort from Cooperating Systems Corporation....
in the heart with Nothung.

In his last moments, Fafner learns Siegfried's name, and tells him to beware of treachery. When Siegfried draws his sword from the corpse, his hands are burned by the dragon's blood

Dragon blood

Dragon's blood serves a purpose in many different mythology. Depending on the tradition, dragon?s blood had very different meanings. In the Slavic mythology, the Earth refuses it as it is so vile that Mother Earth wishes not to have it within her womb, and it remains above ground for all eternity....
, and he instinctively puts them to his mouth. On tasting the blood, he finds that he can understand the woodbird's song

Language of the birds

In mythology, medieval literature and occultism, the language of the birds is postulated as a mystical, perfect or divine language, or a Mythical origins of language or magical language used by birds to communicate with the initiated....
. Following its instructions, he takes the Ring and 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....
from Fafner's hoard. Mime reappears, and Siegfried complains that he has still not learned the meaning of fear. Mime offers him the poisoned drink. However, the dragon's blood allows Siegfried to read Mime's treacherous thoughts, and he slays the Nibelung. Siegfried then throws Mime's body into the treasure cave and places Fafner's body in the cave entrance to block it as well.

The woodbird now sings of a woman sleeping on a rock surrounded by magic fire. Siegfried, wondering if he can learn fear from this woman, heads toward the mountain.

Act 3

The Wanderer appears on the path to Brünnhilde's rock and summons Erda, the earth goddess. Erda, appearing confused, is unable to offer any advice. Wotan informs her that he no longer fears the end of the gods

RagNaRok

Ragnar?k is the fifth album, released in 1995 on Metal Blade Records, by the Rock and roll/Heavy metal music/punk rock band GWAR.This album contains the most varied vocal stylings of any GWAR album, as the majority of the band lends their lungs to the tracklist , as well as guest villain Cardinal Syn....
; indeed, it is his desire. His heritage will be left to Siegfried the Walsung, and their child, Brünnhilde, will "work the deed that redeems the World." Dismissed, Erda sinks back into the earth.

Siegfried arrives, and the Wanderer questions the youth. Siegfried, who does not recognize his grandfather, answers insolently and starts down the path towards Brünnhilde's rock. The Wanderer blocks his path, but Siegfried breaks Wotan's spear

Gungnir

In Norse mythology, Gungnir is Odin's spear....
with a blow from Nothung. Wotan calmly gathers up the pieces and vanishes.

Siegfried enters the ring of fire, emerging on Brünnhilde's rock. At first, he thinks the armored figure is a man. However, when he removes the armor, he finds a woman beneath. Uncertain about what to do, Siegfried at last experiences fear. In desperation, he kisses Brünnhilde, waking her from her magic sleep. Hesitant at first, Brünnhilde is won over by Siegfried's love, and renounces the world of the gods. Together, they hail "light-bringing love, and laughing death."

Noted excerpts

As with the rest of the Ring, a few excerpts are heard outside the opera house. The most common heard excerpt from Siegfried is the Forest Murmurs.

Other famous excerpts include

Prelude to Act I
Siegfried's Forging Song (Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert!) (Act I)
Forest Murmurs (Act II)
Prelude to Act III
Brünnhilde's Awakening (Heil dir, Sonne!) (Act III)
Quotations of the Siegfried Idyll
Siegfried Idyll

The Siegfried Idyll, one of Richard Wagner's few non-operatic works, is a symphonic poem lasting approximately twenty minutes for chamber orchestra....
(Act III)

Selected recordings

Year	Cast (Siegfried, Brünnhilde, Mime, Wanderer, Fafner, Waldvogel)	Conductor Orchestra	Label Catalog # Mono/Stereo, Live/Studio
1937	Lauritz Melchior Lauritz Melchior Lauritz Melchior was a Danish people and later American opera singer. He was the pre-eminent Wagnerian tenor of the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and has since come to be considered the quintessence of his voice type.... , 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.... , Karl Laufkötter, Friedrich Schorr Friedrich Schorr Friedrich Schorr was an Austrian-Hungary bass-baritone opera singer of Jewish origin. He later became a naturalized American.Schorr is recognized as the greatest Wagnerian bass-baritone of his generation, arguably of the 20th century, and was famous for his portrayals of Wotan in Der Ring des Nibelungen and Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinge... , Emanuel List Emanuel List Emanuel List was an Austrian-American opera bass voice. He is best remembered for his performances in Richard Wagnerian operas.List first began singing as a boy soprano in a Vienna choir, and also sang in the musical theater there.... , Stella Andreva	Artur Bodanzky Artur Bodanzky Artur Bodanzky was an Austrian-USA conducting particularly associated with the operas of Richard Wagner.... Metropolitan Opera Orchestra	CD: Naxos Cat: 8.110211-13 Mono, Live
1953	Ludwig Suthaus Ludwig Suthaus Ludwig Suthaus was a Germany opera singer , who was born in Cologne and died in West Berlin.... , Martha Mödl Martha Mödl Martha M?dl was a Germans soprano, and later a mezzo-soprano. She specialized in large dramatic roles, most notably Wagnerian roles such as Isolde, Kundry, and Br?nnhilde.... , 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.... , 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.... , 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.... , Rita Streich Rita Streich Rita Streich was one of the most significant coloratura sopranos of the post-war period.Rita Streich moved to Germany with her parents during her childhood, where she grew up bilingual, something that was extremely helpful during her later career....	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 67131 2 Mono, Live
1962	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 .... , Birgit Nilsson Birgit Nilsson Birgit Nilsson was a Sweden dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works. Her voice was noted for its overwhelming force, bountiful reserves of power and the gleaming brilliance and clarity in the upper register.... , 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 .... , Hans Hotter Hans Hotter Hans Hotter was a German operatic bass-baritone, admired internationally after World War II for the power, beauty, and intelligence of his singing, especially in Richard Wagner operas.... , 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.... , Joan Sutherland Joan Sutherland Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, Order of Merit, Order of Australia, Order of the British Empire is an Australian voice type soprano noted for her contribution in the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire in the late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s....	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: 455 564-2 Stereo, Studio
1966	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 .... , Birgit Nilsson Birgit Nilsson Birgit Nilsson was a Sweden dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works. Her voice was noted for its overwhelming force, bountiful reserves of power and the gleaming brilliance and clarity in the upper register.... , Erwin Wohlfahrt, 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.... , 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.... , Erika Köth Erika Köth Erika K?th was a Germany operatic coloratura soprano, particularly associated with the role of Ariadne auf Naxos.She began a musical studies in Darmstadt with Elsa Blank in 1942, and after an interruption resumed them in 1945....	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: 412 483-2 Stereo, Live
1969	Jess Thomas Jess Thomas Jess Thomas was a lyric and Richard Wagner tenor. As a child he took part in various musical activities and later studied psychology at the University of Nebraska and Stanford University.... , Helga Dernesch Helga Dernesch Helga Dernesch is an Austrian soprano and mezzo soprano.... , 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 .... , Thomas Stewart, Karl Ridderbusch Karl Ridderbusch Karl Ridderbusch was a German operatic bass .... , Catherine Gayer	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: 457 790-2 Stereo, Studio
1980	Manfred Jung, Gwyneth Jones, 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 .... , 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.... , Fritz Hübner, Norma Sharp	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: 434 423-2 Stereo, Studio
1988	Reiner Goldberg, Hildegard Behrens Hildegard Behrens Hildegard Behrens is a German dramatic soprano known for her wide repertory including Richard Wagner, Carl Maria von Weber, Mozart, Richard Strauss, and Alban Berg roles.... , 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 Morris, 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.... , Kathleen Battle Kathleen Battle Kathleen Battle is an African-American soprano known for her agile and light voice and her silvery, pure tone. One of the most prominent recitalists and opera singers of her generation, she is admired for her wide ranging recital repertoire and performances of the operas of Handel and Mozart....	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: 429 407-2 Stereo, Studio
1988	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.... , Éva Marton Éva Marton ?va Marton is a Hungary dramatic soprano, particularly known for her operatic portrayals of Puccini's Turandot and Tosca, and Wagnerian roles.... , Peter Haage, James Morris, Kurt Rydl, Kiri Te Kanawa Kiri Te Kanawa Dame Kiri Janette Te Kanawa, Order of New Zealand, Order of the British Empire, Order of Australia, is a New Zealand soprano who had a highly successful international opera career between 1968-2004....	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 54290 2 Stereo, Studio

Sources

Siegfried begins fearless, and expresses his wish to learn fear to his foster father Mime, who says the wise learn fear quickly, but the stupid find it more difficult. In a letter to his friend Theodor Uhlig, Wagner recounts The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was
The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was

The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was or The Story of a Boy Who Went Forth to Learn Fear is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm....
, about a boy so stupid he could not discover what fear was -- and points out that the youth and Siegfried are the same character. Although Wagner did not include the connection, the boy is taught fear by his wife, as Siegfried learns it when he discovers the sleeping Brünnhilde.

External links

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

Siegfried (opera)

Composition

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Noted excerpts

Selected recordings

Sources

See also

External links