About the opera Die Walkure:


This music drama was written in 1856 by Richard Wagner. It is the second in the cycle of four operas called the Ring Cycle.

The Ring Cycle goes as follows:

  • Das Rheingold
  • Die Walkure
  • Siegfried
  • Gotterdammerung

    It's about Siegmund and Sieglinde, children of Wotan, father of the gods. They fall in love (yeah, I know, gross, but I picked the name because I like the way it sounds), but Sieglinde is being forced to marry Hunding, a chieftain. Hunding challeges Siegmund to battle. Naturally, Wotan wants his son to win, but his wife, Frika, tells him that Siegmund must die (I'm not sure why. She had a good reason, I'm sure). End of Act I.

    Act II, enter Brunnhilde. She is one of the Valkyries, the favorite of these nine daughters of Wotan. The Valkyries' work is to carry the dead off the battlefield on their winged horses and take them to Valhalla, where they will sit and "feast with the gods" forever. Anyway, Wotan is talking to her, and he tells her about the battle that is about to take place between Hunding and Siegmund. He says that she must make sure Hunding wins. (I dunno, this Wotan is a strange guy. First, he wants Siegmund to win, then Hunding...) So Brònnhilde goes to tell Siegmund of his fate, but pities him and decides to disobey her father. When the two men fight, Brunnhilde tries to shield Siegmund, but to no avail, for her father comes in and makes sure that Hunding will kill Siegmund. But then, Wotan turns around and kills Hunding with a look (if looks could kill...).

    Act III opens with the famous "Ride of the Valkyries", depicting the goddesses flying through the storm on their winged horses. Brunnhilde and Sieglinde enter. Sieglinde wants to die, but Brunnhilde tells her she must live to bear Siegmund's son, who is destined to become the world's greatest hero. Then, Sieglinde runs off into the forest while Brunnhilde stays and faces her father. He tells her that she will become a mortal and will no longer be able to sit with the gods or be a Valkyrie. As well, he put her to sleep on a rock and surrounded it with flames so that only a fearless hero could save her (somewhat like Sleeping Beauty, I think).
    And that's how it ends! You should hear the music for it though; its amazing.

    *(sorry I can't get any accents in; there should be a whole bunch.)

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