Program

Richard Wagner, Twilight of the Gods, WWV 86D

Prologue - Orchestral Prelude

Prologue - "Welch‘ Licht leuchtet dort?"

Prologue - "Dämmert der Tag? Oder leuchtet die Lohe?"

Prologue - Dawn

Prologue - "Zu neuen Taten, teurer Helde"

Prologue - Siegfried's Rhine Journey

I, 1 - "Nun hör, Hagen"

I, 1 - "Brächte Siegfried die Braut dir heim, wär‘ dann nicht Brünnhilde dein?"

I, 2 - "Heil! Siegfried, teurer Held"

I, 2 - "Begrüße froh, o Held, die Halle meines Vaters"

I, 2 - "Vergäß‘ ich alles, was du mir gabst"

I, 2 - "Hast du, Gunther, ein Weib?"

I, 2 - "Was nahmst du am Eide nicht teil?"

I, 2 - "Hier sitz‘ ich zur Wacht"

I, 2 - Orchestral Interlude

I, 3 - "Altgewohntes Geräusch raunt meinem Ohr die Ferne"

I, 3 - "Höre mit Sinn, was ich dir sage!"

I, 3 - "Welch banger Träume Mären meldest du Traurige mir!"

I, 3 - "Blitzend Gewölk, vom Wind getragen, stürme dahin"

I, 3 - "Brünnhild’! Ein Freier kam, den dein Feuer nicht geschreckt!"

I, 3 - "Jetzt bist du mein, Brünnhilde, Gunthers Braut"

II - Orchestral Prelude

II, 1 - "Schläfst du, Hagen, mein Sohn?"

II, 1-2 - Orchestral Interlude

II, 2 - "Hoiho, Hagen! Müder Mann!"

II, 3 - "Hoiho! Hoihohoho! Ihr Gibichsmannen, machet euch auf!"

II, 3 - "Groß Glück und Heil lacht nun dem Rhein"

II, 4 - "Heil dir, Gunther! Heil dir und deiner Braut!"

II, 4 - "Einen Ring sah ich an deiner Hand"

II, 4 - "Helle Wehr! Heilige Waffe!'"

II, 5 - "Welches Unholds List liegt hier verhohlen?"

II, 5 - "So kann keine Wehr ihm schaden?"

II, 5 - "So wär' es Siegfrieds Ende!"

III - Orchestral Prelude

III, 1 - "Frau Sonne sendet lichte Strahlen"

III, 1 - "Ein Albe führte mich irr"

III, 1 - "Was leid ich doch das karge Lob?"

III, 1 - "Kommt, Schwestern! Schwindet dem Toren!"

III, 2 - "Hoiho!"

III, 2 - "Trink, Gunther, trink! Dein Bruder bringt es dir!"

III, 2 - "Mime hieß ein mürrischer Zwerg"

III, 2 - "In Leid zu dem Wipfel lauscht' ich hinauf"

III, 2 - "Hagen, was tatest du?"

III, 2 - Funeral March

III, 3 - "War das sein Horn?"

III, 3 - "Siegfried – Siegfried erschlagen!"

III, 3 - "Schweigt eures Jammers jauchzenden Schwall"

III, 3 - "Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort"

III, 3 - "Ruhe, ruhe, du Gott!"

III, 3 - "Grane, mein Roß, sei mir gegrüßt!"

Wagner's Götterdämmerung

The complete Ring Cycle at the Zürich Opera

Subscribers

Cast

Andreas Homoki — Producer

Christian Schmidt — Set and costume design

Florian Schaaf — Assistant artistic stage designer

Tieni Burkhalter — Video designer

Franck Evin — Lighting designer

Werner Hintze — Dramaturgy

Beate Breidenbach — Dramaturgy

Klaus Florian Vogt — Siegfried

Program notes

Lose yourself in the legendary world of Richard Wagner’s epic four-part saga Der Ring des Nibelungen, one of opera’s most towering achievements, first performed as a cycle 150 years ago in 1876 and presented here in a magnificent Zürich Opera House staging described by Bachtrack as “dramatic music-making at its finest.” Conductor Gianandrea Noseda and stage director Andreas Homoki’s polished and imaginative production underscores the profound humanity of a “dysfunctional family of gods” (The Independent) brought to life by an exceptional cast that includes Klaus Florian Vogt, Tomasz Konieczny, Camilla Nylund, and Christopher Purves.

Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen draws inspiration from Norse mythology and Germanic legend. With this original cycle, he crafted a grand operatic universe filled with extraordinary tales about a powerful, cursed ring and its role in the conflict between gods and mortals. Götterdämmerung ("The Twilight of the Gods") is the final opera in the set. The scheming Hagen, son of Alberich, encourages his half-siblings Gunther and Gutrune, heirs of a great kingdom, to claim the noble Brünnhilde and heroic Siegfried as their respective partners when Siegfried, seeking new adventures, arrives at their palace. After drinking a magic potion, Siegfried forgets about Brünnhilde and falls in love with Gutrune. To marry Gutrune, Siegfried must first secure Brünnhilde (still guarded by the fire and in possession of the ring as a token of his love) for Gunther. Disguised as Gunther, Siegfried brings Brünnhilde to him — but Brünnhilde recognizes Siegfried and, wounded, conspires against him. After Hagen—who all along only wanted the ring for himself—kills Siegfried, Brünnhilde forgives her now-lost love and returns the ring to the Rhine. This action lifts its curse, bringing an end to the era of the gods and their power forever. In the concluding scene of the opera, Brünnhilde leaps on Siegfried’s funeral pyre, joining him in the flames of love and death.

A closer look: featured composers

Richard Wagner

Further listening: featured works

Twilight of the Gods, WWV 86D

Richard Wagner (Composer)