He is soon duped by King Gunther and his half-brother Hagen (son of Alberich) into forgetting his love for Brünnhilde and promising her to Gunther in exchange for his sister’s hand in marriage. Still smitten, Siegfried gives the ring to Brünnhilde as a token of his love before embarking on further heroic quests. Part 4 of the Ring cycle begins with the three Norns reviewing the thread of destiny and recalling Alberich’s curse on the ring. Swords are re-forged, dragons slain, treasures reclaimed, justice dispensed, a forest bird sings, and the power of the gods continues to dwindle as the hero’s quest culminates in the discovery and rapturous rescue of Brünnhilde on her rocky ledge. A mysterious Wanderer (Wotan in disguise) visits Mime and, after a game of riddles, hints that Siegfried is indeed destined for greatness but also will be Mime’s doom. Mime, brother to Alberich, has raised Siegfried ever since he lost his mother at birth, and plans to use the boy to liberate the Nibelung hoard, including the all-powerful ring. Part 3 of the Ring cycle chronicles the heroic coming of age of the naïve yet fearless Siegfried, product of the Siegmund/Sieglinde union. The duel ends messily, Sieglinde is spirited away to bear a son, and Wotan and Brünnhilde have a fiery father/daughter showdown on a towering cliff. Wotan defers to Fricka, but Brünnhilde, moved by Siegmund’s overwhelming love, defies the gods and protects him. The adulterous pairing draws the ire of Fricka, goddess of marriage, who demands the interloper be killed. Believing that this union holds the key to lifting the ring’s curse, Wotan instructs his Valkyrie daughter Brünnhilde to defend Siegmund in the ensuing duel.
Deep in the forest, love blossoms between the dashing nomad Siegmund and the unhappily married Sieglinde.
Part 2 of the Ring cycle, featuring the unforgettable “Ride Of The Valkyries”, is equal parts heady romance and high-stakes family drama. 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. The resulting curse takes effect immediately as blood is shed in an argument over the ring. 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 prelude to the Ring cycle begins with the swimming Rhine daughters losing their precious gold to the Nibelung dwarf Alberich. This award-winning production, inspired by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, was unveiled in 2001 to wide acclaim, and revived for sold-out audiences in 20.
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