Scene 1: The depths of the Rhine

Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde, the three Rhinemaidens supposed to be guarding the Rhinegold, play merrily among the waves. Suddenly, the dwarf Alberich emerges from a dark chasm. Watching the maidens with wonder, he attempts to woo them in his own clumsy fashion, but they only make a fool of him. He becomes increasingly frustrated by their constant mockery. When he hears that the mysterious treasure of the Rhine can only be claimed by he who renounces love forever, he lays a curse on love and seizes the gold.

© Attila Nagy, Müpa

Scene 2: High in the mountains

The fortress of Wotan, Lord of the Gods, is complete. However, the giants who built it, Fafner and Fasolt, have demanded a heavy price for their labour: Freia, the goddess of beauty and eternal youth. Wotan reassures his anxious wife, Fricka, that he will not hand the girl over to the giants, and that Loge, the cunning god of fire, will find a way out. When Loge finally emerges from the flickering flames, he chatters at first before reporting what Alberich has done and that the dwarf is using a magic ring forged from the Rhinegold to enslave the entire world. The giants decide they will exchange the gold for Freia, but they hold the goddess hostage for the time being. Wotan and Loge descend into the depths, towards the subterranean world of the dwarves.

Scene 3: Nibelheim, home of the Nibelungs

The two gods discover that Alberich has used the power of the ring to enslave his entire race, even tyrannising his own brother, Mime. He forces Mime to forge a magic helmet for him – anyone wearing it can instantly transport himself elsewhere or assume any shape he wishes. This plays right into the gods’ hands. They trick the dwarf into turning himself into a tiny toad and capture him.

Scene 4: Back on high

In exchange for Alberich’s freedom, Wotan and Loge demand his treasure, and eventually strip him of both the helmet and the ring. The humiliated dwarf places a curse on the ring. Wotan becomes ever more enchanted by the magical jewellery and grows reluctant to hand it over to the giants. At that moment, Erda, the Earth Mother, rises from the depths and warns him that the ring will be his downfall. Deeply shaken, the chief god finally surrenders the entire treasure to the giants. The power of the curse immediately becomes apparent: while dividing the treasure, Fafner kills Fasolt. The gods take possession of their new home, Valhalla.

© Attila Nagy, Müpa