Act 1: A cave in the forest

Siegfried, the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde, has been raised by the dwarf Mime. The extraordinarily strong youth has now outgrown him and causes him endless trouble – though Mime only took him in so that, once grown, he would slay Fafner, who has been turned into a dragon, and retrieve the ring. One day a mysterious wanderer arrives – Wotan in disguise. From him, Mime learns that only one who does not know fear can kill the dragon. The task therefore falls to Siegfried. Mime tells him of his true parentage and gives him his father’s broken sword, Nothung. Since the dwarf has been unable to reforge the magic blade, Siegfried takes on the task himself – while the malevolent dwarf brews a poison to do away with him once he has slain the dragon.

© Bálint Hirling, Müpa

Act 2: In the woods

Mime leads Siegfried to Fafner’s cave and then leaves him alone. The youth encounters the dragon and easily strikes him down. When he burns his hand on the dragon’s blood and puts his finger to his mouth, a miracle occurs: he understands the song of the birds. A little bird advises him to take only the ring and the helmet from the hoard, and warns him of Mime’s treacherous plan. Siegfried kills the dwarf too, even though this leaves him alone. The little bird then gives him further good counsel: it tells him of Brünnhilde, who can only be won by a hero who knows no fear. The youth sets off for the rock encircled by flames.

Act 3: Near Brünnhilde’s rock

Wotan summons Erda once more to seek her counsel, but the Earth Mother is horrified by what has become of the world while she slept in the depths, so she refuses to help. Siegfried arrives, but the chief god is reluctant to let him pass and surrender his daughter, and thereby leave the world’s stage forever. They quarrel, and Siegfried shatters Wotan’s spear, the symbol of his power, with his sword. The path to Brünnhilde now lies open. When she awakens, she is filled with joy but struggles to accept that she must give herself over to a man. In the end, the young hero’s passionate love prevails.

© Bálint Hirling, Müpa