The Story
Das Rheingold or The Rhinegold is the first opera in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen or Ring Cycle. This opera averages 2 1/2 hours. In this first opera, we are introduced to the Rhinemadiens and to a dwarf named Alberich. The Rinemadiens entice Alberich with their beauty, and he tries to catch them because he loves them. The Rhinemadiens know Alberich loves them, they tell him about the Rhinegold. And with this gold, you can forge an all-powerful ring. But before you can gain this gold, you most curse all forms of love. They, thinking he would never curse all love because he lusts after them, tell these things to him without fear. However, Alberich curses all forms of love, steals the Rhinegold, a runs away. The maidens are shocked by his actions.
While this is going on, Woton, chief of gods, has his problems. Woton hired two giants, Fasolt and Fafner, to build him a fortress with the payment being the goddess Freia. When the giants finish this fortress, they demand Freia. Loge, the god of fire, suggests that they do not take Freia as payment, but hunt down Alberich and take his ring. The giants agree to this under one condition: that they take Freia for the evening while Woton and Loge find the gold and the ring.
Not only does Alberich have an all-powerful ring, but his brother, Mime, forged him a helmet, Tarnhelm, which can transform the wearer into any shape or form. When Alberich hears that Woton and Loge are coming, he puts on the helmet and transforms into a serpent and then a toad. They catch Alberich as a toad, and they order Alberich's slaves to bring up the gold. Woton then takes the ring and places it on his finger. Alberich curses the ring so no one who possesses it shall escape death.
Wotan and Loge bring the gold to the giants and ask for Freia back. Woton does not give the giants the ring because he begins to love it. Erda, the goddess of the earth, warns Woton the if he continues to possess this ring, it will be the end of the gods. He then decides to give the ring to the giants and they give him Freia. Not long after Woton gives the ring to the giants, Fafner takes the ring for himself and kills his brother Fasolt.
The Music
While listening to this, I was amazed by how Wagner wrote many emotions in his work. You could feel the tension, sadness, and joy. I don't know why I was expecting this opera to be bland and uninteresting. It was also fun to read how Tolkien was inspired by this cycle to write Lord of the Rings. The stories between this opera and hins novels are closely knit. There were times in the music where you heard themes from the movies Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and a bit of Harry Potter. Who knew Wagner could inspire great authors and musicians?
In German operas, there are sounds that Italian operas do not have. Yes, you can hear the frustration in Italian operas, but German operas offer more anger in their frustration. After listening to this opera, I would recommend listening to Das Rheingold. This opera has a lot of good things to offer from the music to the story. An interesting fact about this opera is that it does not have acts, but only scenes. That means that everything could be communicated through one long piece, versus being broken into several acts. The next three operas have traditional acts. I am looking forward to hearing the second opera of this cycle, Die Walküre, this week. I read the story in this opera a long time ago, and now I am looking forward to hearing it put to music.
Cheers,
Chloe Elizabeth
Information was taken from https://opera.org.au/melbourne/ring-cycle/synopsis and http://users.utu.fi/hansalmi/wagner/rhein.html