Prologue: Near Brünnhilde’s rock

The Norns, the goddesses of fate, reflect on the deeds of Wotan, Loge and Alberich, but when they attempt to look into the future, the thread of the world snaps and they lose their power. At dawn, Brünnhilde and Siegfried bid each other a loving farewell. The young hero gives the girl his ring and sets off in search of new adventures.

Act 1: The Hall of the Gibichungs, then Brünnhilde’s Rock

Hagen, son of Alberich, conspires with his half-siblings, the Gibichung ruler Gunther and his sister Gutrune, to secure themselves suitable marriages. Gunther, the king, should wed Brünnhilde, while Gutrune would be the bride of Siegfried. When the hero arrives at the court, the girl gives him a magic potion that makes him instantly forget his love for Brünnhilde and turn his attention to Gutrune. To win her hand, he is even willing to swear blood-brotherhood with Gunther and bring him the Valkyrie. He uses the helmet to assume Gunther’s form and sets out to encounter Brünnhilde. Meanwhile, Brünnhilde is visited by her sister Waltraute, who tells her of Wotan’s fate and begs her to relinquish the ring. Brünnhilde refuses. Under cover of his disguise, Siegfried overcomes Brünnhilde and takes the ring from her.

Act 2: The bank of the Rhine in front of the hall

Hagen keeps watch while the men are away. When his father Alberich visits, Hagen assures him that he has a plan to obtain the ring. Upon arriving at the palace, the captive Brünnhilde sees Siegfried at another woman’s side and is plunged into confusion. She accuses her former lover of intentionally passing her on to another man to allow him to find a better match. Although the young hero denies it, Gunther is devastated by the news that his friend had amorous relations with his bride. Hagen persuades both Gunther and the betrayed Brünnhilde to take revenge on Siegfried.

© Csibi Szilvia, Müpa

Act 3: Wooded landscape by the Rhine

While hunting, Siegfried encounters the Rhinemaidens, who warn him that his ring is cursed. He merely laughs at them. When he rejoins his companions, Hagen asks him to recount his youth and gives him the antidote to the forgetting potion. Siegfried’s memories of Brünnhilde suddenly return and his feelings for her burst forth. Upon hearing his confession, Hagen stabs the young hero. When the body is brought back to the palace, Brünnhilde builds a pyre so that she may be united with her beloved in death. She then sends Wotan’s ravens home through the flames so that Valhalla may be destroyed, heralding the twilight of the gods.

© Attila Nagy, Müpa