An introduction to The Rhinegold

Full of quarrelling gods, spiteful dwarfs and tempestuous nymphs, The Rhinegold is set in the rich and fantastical world of Norse mythology.

The text is based on the Nibelungenlied (also known as the Song of the Nibelungs), an early 13^th century Germanic text with a basis (most likely) in oral storytelling – there are striking similarities between this and the Saga of the Völsungs, mixed with tales from the Poetic Edda. 

If you’re a fan of the Norse myths, or are a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor films, you’re likely to recognise a few characters – though likely under different names.

Wagner, naturally, used the Germanic forms of the gods’s names: the familiar Odin (or Oðinn) is known as Wotan, closer therefore to the Anglo-Saxon form of the character, Woden – where we get ‘Wednesday’ from (Woden’s day).

Maybe you’ve only seen The Valkyrie. Maybe you’re all new to this opera lark and the Ring Cycle for you is a marriage-based cycling event. 

We’re here to set you straight: Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen is truly his magnum opus – a 4 instalment, Norse mythology inspired, 16 hour epic operatic story.

Composed over the period of 26 years, and first performed at the inaugural  Bayreuth Festival in 1876, a festival presented by the composer in celebration of his output. 

You don’t have to start with the famous opera in the Ring Cycle – The Valkyrie as The Rhinegold is the first in the cycle.

As described by Wagner as ‘Ein Bühnenfestspiel für drei tage und linen Vorabend’ (a stage festival play for three days and a preliminary evening), think of The Rhinegold as The Hobbit to The Valkyrie, Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods version of The Lord of the Rings.

The Rhinegold acts as a prelude and prequel, explaining the origins of the titular Ring of the Nibelungens, from which much of the drama of the saga is based around.