Das Rheingold
Story & Setting:
Das Rheingold is the first opera in Wagner's epic Ring Cycle. The shortest of the four works, this high-tech update from creator Robert Lepage utilizes 24 swiveling beams covered in LED screens to evoke the fantastical settings. The plot follows the actions of mythical creatures such as Rhine river maidens, dwarves, giants, and gods.
Opera Notes:
Serving as both composer and librettist, Wagner wished to create a monumental musical drama. He did this through the technique of leitmotif, using a short musical theme to represent a specific character, place, or idea. The themes introduced in this first installment of the Ring Cycle are repeated often in the sub sequent operas, in increasingly complex ways.
Sung in
German
Length:
2 hours & 30 minutes (no intermission)
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Watch/Listen
Wotan/Fricka duet (Greer Grimsley & Jamie Barton)
Met Opera (current production)
Finale
Met Opera (current production)