Das Rheingold
By Richard Wagner
The prelude to the Ring cycle begins with the swimming Rhine daughters losing their precious gold to the Nibelung dwarf Alberich. The gods, led by Wotan, in need of treasure to pay off the giants who have built Valhalla, descend into the Nibelung caverns, capture Alberich, and force him to give up the ring. The resulting curse takes effect immediately as blood is shed in an argument over the ring. The opera ends with the gods crossing the rainbow bridge to Valhalla, accompanied by the forlorn calls of the Rhine daughters and dire predictions about the gods’ future.
In German with English Captions
Approximate Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes | at McCaw Hall
Ring Cycle Dates - Buy Full Cycle
Cycle I: August 4, 5, 7, & 9
Cycle II: August 12, 13, 15 & 17
Cycle III: August 20, 21, 23 & 25
Features
Synopsis
Read the saga of Wagner’s gods and goddesses—the ring that tears them apart, the Valkyrie who dares to disobey, the boy who knows no fear, and the downfall of the gods.
Artists
Meet the artists who will bring Wagner’s epic to life, including Seattle Ring veterans Greer Grimsley, Stephanie Blythe, and director Stephen Wadsworth, as well as Alwyn Mellor and Stefan Vinke in their company Ring debuts.
Photos
See images of the 2009 Ring, featuring both newcomers and familiar faces, plus the beautifully naturalistic sets of Thomas Lynch, costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, and lighting designed by Peter Kaczorowski.
Videos
Watch a video preview from the 2009 Seattle Opera production of Das Rheingold. Footage includes many of the favorite scenes from this opera.