 As mentioned at the end of Das Rheingold, this opera is in three acts. The main characters in this piece are Siegmund, Sieglinde, Hunding, Wälse, Woton, Brünnhilde, Fricka, and the Valkyries. There are a few of the characters present from the first opera, as well as new ones. Everything about this opera is complex, interesting, and astonishing. No one has ever said opera is pretty.
The Story, Synopsis:
 This story is about Siegmund and Sieglinde, and it is not a happy or pleasant one. Siegmund enters a house, after escaping enemies, of Sieglinde and Hunding. He tells them both his stories; how one day he came home to find his mother murdered and his father and sister had disappeared, how he tried to save a damsel in distress from an unwanted marriage and he killed her family, and how eventually the girl died. He learns that Hunding is a relative to the family, and is now challenged to a duel. Hunding goes back to bed after unknowingly drinking a sleep potion. During this time, Siegmund tells Sieglinde his last name is Walsë, Sieglinde tells him about her forced marriage and a stranger stabbed a sward in a tree during her wedding day, they both say they love each other, and Sieglinde tells him that they are twin brothers and sisters. They both decide to run away after he pulls the sword out of the tree.Â
 Wotan tells his daughter, Valkyrie Brünnhilde, to protect Siegmund from Hunding. However, Wotan's wife, Fricka, tells him that he must protect Hunding and his marriage, and punish Siegmund. He ends up agreeing to not have Brünnhilde protect Siegmund. Frika then tells her how Wotan failed to recover Alberich's all-powerful ring and the curse that is upon it. Brünnhilde is surprised by her father's actions.Â
 Brünnhilde tries to help Siegmund in his combat against Hunding, but fails. Woton shatters Siegmunds sword, and Hunding kills him. After this, Wotan kills Hunding and then leaves to punish Brunnhilde.Â
 Brünnhilde escapes to her eight warrior sisters with Sieglinde and tells them what has happened. They are afraid to help them because of Wotan. Sieglinde is in despair but Brünnhilde tells her she is carrying Siegmund's child. She then takes the pieces of Siegmund's sword and hides in the woods from Wotan. Brünnhilde faces the terrible punishment of Wotan as he renounces her to become a mortal woman and must be saved by a man. Brünnhilde asks that she be surrounded by a ring of fire so that only the bravest man could save her. Wotan does this and leaves Brünnhilde with the hope that Siegmund's child will save her.
The Music:Â
The first piece in this opera is an orchestral work. The opening is similar to The Black Rider or A Knife in the Dark from The Fellowship of the Ring movie soundtrack which was written by Howard Shore. As mentioned in the previous posts on these operas, Wagner inspired many of the great movie soundtrack composers. The famous piece that we all know, Ride of the Valkeries, is in act 3. The emotions in the story are all over the board for love to hate, happiness to anger, forgiveness to revenge. The music of the opera is rather intense, and so it should be to carry this story well. This story is dark, and so the music should be too. I think Wagner was able to write a story as well as music that was close to him in the time of banishment from Germany.
Morality:
Most operas have some sad romances. Almost all have tragic endings. This opera has a tragic ending and not the most moral story. This opera is definitely not my favorite, but it is in the Ring Cycle. We can't cherry-pick what we want to study or read about during class, but we can analyze and go back to the Bible to see what it has to say over these matters.
Here is a link to The Metropolitan Opera website. This week they are replaying some of Wagner's operas. All his operas from the Ring Cycle are played for free tonight through Friday.
Cheers,
Chloe
Information researched from The Metropolitan Opera and here.