Overview

Synopsis

In the third installment of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (or The Ring Cycle) we meet our hero Siegfried, the son of Sieglinde and Siegmund, and grandson of Wotan, the king of the gods.

After his mother died in childbirth, Siegfried was raised by Mime, one of the Nibelung. Now a headstrong young man, Siegfried knows that Mime cannot really be his father, and he is desperate to find some connection and companionship in the world. After he defeats the dragon Fafner on Mime’s behalf, Siegfried learns that Mime had planned his whole life to use him for this purpose, and now he intends to kill him. Siegfried defends himself before it is too late, and kills Mime with one blow.

He now sets out in search of some companionship. A bird in the forest tells him of a beautiful woman lying on the mountainside, wreathed in fire. Only the most courageous man could possibly claim her for his own. Siegfried has never felt fear in his life. He follows the bird to the mountainside to claim the woman, Brünnhilde for his own.

Show Information

Libretto
Richard Wagner
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1876
Genres
Fairy Tale/Fantasy
Settings
Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Mythological, River Rhine, Germany
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Male, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Adult, Elderly, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Lead Characters

Siegfried logo

Siegfried

Lead, Male, Tenor

Siegfried

Siegfried logo

Wotan / The Wanderer

Lead, Male, Bass-Baritone

Siegfried

Siegfried logo

Mime

Lead, Male, Tenor

Siegfried

Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.