Götterdämmerung
Wagner's tale of gods, mortals and giants draws to a close. Keith Warner presents a bravura production of the fourth opera in the Ring cycle.
Introduction
Siegfried has awoken Brünnhilde from a deep sleep and they have fallen in love. Siegfried gives her the magic ring in token of his love, but they are soon caught up in events beyond their control.
Background
Götterdämmerung was Richard Wagner’s starting point in writing the Ring cycle: the other three operas provide background to the central event of Siegfried’s death, which first inspired the composer. It took Wagner 26 years to complete Götterdämmerung and it had its premiere in 1876, at the first performance of the complete cycle at Bayreuth. Wagner brings the Ring to a close with music of great power and complexity, bringing together leitmotifs from throughout the cycle with new material.
Götterdämmerung moves from the mythical landscape of the previous operas to a world more akin to our own, as Siegfried journeys down the Rhine to the deceitful world of the Gibichungs. The impending fall of the gods is reflected in the blackened, apocalyptic landscape of Act III, in which the ageing and lonely Rhinedaughters plead for the return of their gold in sensual melodies. The stirring music of Siegfried’s funeral march and Brünnhilde’s epic immolation scene bring the opera to a dramatic conclusion. By its end, the world order will have been restored – but at a devastating cost.
The Ring Cycle
This production is part of The Ring Cycle
Thanks to
Originally made possible by
The Dalriada Trust
How to support the Royal Opera House
Running time
About 6 hours 30 minutes | Including two intervals
Act 1 will last for just over 2 hours, followed by an interval of 40 minutes. Act 2 will last for about 1 hour 7 minutes, followed by an interval of 1 hour 15 minutes. Act 3 will last for about 1 hour 20 minutes.
Language
Sung in German with English surtitles
Credits
| Director | Keith Warner |
| Set designs | Stefanos Lazaridis |
| Costume designs | Marie-Jeanne Lecca |
| Lighting design | Wolfgang Göbbel |
| Original Movement Director | Claire Glaskin |
| Video | Mic Pool |
| Video | Dick Straker |
| Associate Set Designer | Matthew Deely |
Related links
- en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia: Götterdämmerung
- www.rohcollections.org.uk Costume, design & photographic collections – Götterdämmerung:
- www.bbc.co.uk Judith Weir reflects on Wagner’s Ring cycle
- www.bbc.co.uk Kasper Holten on the enormity of The Ring
- www.bbc.co.uk What is 'The Ring' about? - An Introduction
