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Credits Christiane DeVries and Dhivya Krishnan, Writers Christiane DeVries, Martha Hunt, and Michelle Krisel, Editors Marty Ittner, Graphic Design, m-art.org

Illustration Credits Cover: WNO production, photo by Karen Cooper Page 2: Courtesy New Line Cinema/ZUMA Press Page 3: Cäsar Willich, Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Mannheim Center fold: WNO production, costume sketches by Catherine Zuber

Education and Community Programs • 202.448.3465 • [email protected] • www.dc-opera.org The Ring of the Nibelungs Libretto SIEgfried the text of an opera or other By Richard Wagner dramatic musical work Composer and Librettist introduction Richard Wagner ysterious stories of elves, dwarves, giants, gods, (1813-1883) was born in Leipzig, Germany, a center of musical culture and life. Many famous and goddess have been treasured by young and old across composers, including Mozart and Bach, made the ages. Based on ancient mythology, these tales, even M this city their home. In fact, Bach’s musical career now, permeate all of Western culture from childhood fairy tales to classic ended in the very church where Wagner was literature to full length feature films.The Lord of the Rings is arguably the most baptized (St. Thomas Church). celebrated of these stories today thanks to its transformation into a major Given that his childhood dream was to become motion picture. The author of the books, J.R.R. Tolkien, based his stories on a poet and playwright, Wagner’s early musical training consisted of nothing more than piano lessons. It was legends from Norse mythology. Likewise, not until he was almost eighteen that a serious interest composer Richard Wagner used these same in music developed and he began to study composition legends to create his famous opera series at the University of Leipzig. Though he composed The Ring of the Nibelung, or simply the Ring. many types of musical works throughout his lifetime, Both of these works center around a ring that Wagner is best remembered for his operas. It is interesting to note that many of his promises the owner world power, but which operas are characterized by the role of the absent father which was a reality that haunted Wagner’s own life, never knowing for certain the identity of his father. ultimately leads to destruction. Four operas The early days of his opera composing career had triumphs and hardships make up the Ring cycle and this guide is going alike. While working various church jobs, Wagner composed his first complete to focus on the third one, entitled Siegfried, opera, Das Feen, (translated The Faires) at the age of twenty, but would never a story of an orphaned boy with a destiny have it performed in his lifetime. Romance entered the picture around the same to save his world. (Sound anything like time and he married singer-actress Minna Planer in 1836. Although there were Froto from The Lord of the Rings?) moments of attraction and loving letters, it was a dismal marriage full of quarrels and infidelity that would end three decades later. Discontented with 2 the sovereign government of his day, Wagner also joined a political clear uprising against the monarchy and was forced to flee Germany Siegfried Froto Connections because of a warrant out for his arrest. During this time in exile, he settled in Switzerland where he began working on what would Leitmotifs: Cinema to Cellular become his greatest and most memorable work, Der Ring des A leitmotif is a musical melody that reappears throughout an entire opera, Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelungs). The cycle consists of four operas: play, or movie to represent a particular person, place, object, or event. Basically, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. They are based on the it is music that automatically makes you think of something specific like the Norse legends that Wagner loved as a child and include of over twenty hours of scary theme from the movie Jaws or the “Imperial March” from Star Wars. music and hundreds of characters; it took over two decades to complete. When The Ring is known for its ingenious way of weaving together many he was granted permission to reenter Germany in 1860, he eventually became Listen for it! different leitmotifs. Each character has a unique, but complimentary of interest to King Ludwig II of Bavaria who paid off all Wagner’s debts and gave melody associated with it; ven the sword called Nothung has its own motif. him a large house in the country in return for his close counsel and the copyrights to the Ring. It was a wonderful arrangement for Wagner who was in no financial You probably create motifs on your very own cell phone! Giving crazy cousin Freddy the ringtone “Born to be Wild” is the example of a motif. When think of situation to object and the Ring was finally performed in its entirety in 1876 cousin Freddy, you think of this song, and vice-versa. in Bayreuth, Germany at “Festspielhaus,” an opera house that Wagner had built for this very purpose. Wagner continued composing almost AB kc w sdra up until his death in 1883 in Venice, Italy. backwards He was buried in Bayreuth. Wagner created the libretto backwards starting with 2 Götterdämmerung. 3 clear Connections e Wagner Siegfried im never knowing their fathers A dying request M My dearest Siegfried, Forgive the wavering script, for as I write, I hold you in my arms for the first time knowing it will also be the last. My love for you drives me to pen these final words in hopes that they will help you fulfill your destiny.

It is a complicated account I am to unfold, my son, but crucial you take heed. n n

d Your father Siegmund and I were twin children of the god Wotan, but e separated from each other when we were very young. Your father was killed before your birth by Hunding, the man I was forced to marry, and I was taken prisoner.

r Though he knew of your father’s greatness, your grandfather Wotan was bound by d a law to betray him and favor Hunding in the battle. If Wotan did not uphold the a rights and laws of marriage, he would have lost his powers and immortality. F fner I was rescued by one of Wotan’s other daughters, my half-sister — a Valkyrie named Brünnhilde. She sacrificed her immortality to save me and your father

and, in turn, you. Alas, she was punished for this selfless act and has been sentenced to sleep atop a mountain surrounded by fire, where she can only be A rescued by the one who “knows no fear.” lbe ri ch Your upbringing will be in the care of a Nibelung called Mime. He will raise you, yes, but be wary of him, for his motives are selfish and he will stop at nothing to gain the powers of the ring.

This ring of which I speak was fashioned by Mime’s brother Alberich r re e d n with stolen gold taken from the Rhine River. It promises world dominance a

to whoever should possess it, but has been cursed to blind its keeper with h

uncontrollable greed. It has become a dangerous treasure that will demolish a

d e s i

u the world if not returned to the Rhine. Presently, it is in possession of the once g

giant, now dragon named Fafner. It was your father’s destiny to retrieve the

s i d , n a t

ring, but now that destiny has been passed on to you. Slay Fafner and return o W the ring before it destroys everything. You will do this with the help of your father’s sword, Nothung. Once you have obtained the ring, you must go forth and rescue Brünnhilde, for you are the fearless one who can save her. Go, Siegfried, but carefully. Remember your family, your duty, Wa ld and the curse. Key v o

g Nibelungs are dwarf people from Nibelheim… e l and not the Niebelheim from PlayStation’s W ith my undying love, Final Fantasy VII that is. This character is a bird Sie Valkyries are warrior goddesses who gfr protect worthy soldiers. who helps save Siegfried’s ie Your mother, d life. Because Siegfried accidentally drinks dragon blood, he is able Sieglinde to talk with animals.

Name that tune! Many of melodies from the Ring are recognizable and often used in movies, for example “The Ride of the Valkyries” was in the Listen for it! recent movie Valkyrie (2008). The Academy Award nominated film Apocalypse Now (1979) and the Looney Tunes show entitled “What’s Opera Doc?” also include music from the Ring.