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Das Rheingold

The Rhinemaidens Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde are playing. Alberich the dwarf approaches and tries to catch them. They escape from the clutches of the lovesick dwarf. Suddenly the sun’s rays are visible in the depths of the river, and Alberich sees something shining at the bottom. He hears the Rhinemaidens talking about the Rhinegold and learns that the person who can forge it into a ring will rule the world. First, he must renounce love. Alberich seizes his chance – he foreswears love and snatches the gold.

On a mountain top Wotan, the one-eyed chief of the gods, is woken by Fricka, his wife. She is anxious. The giants Fafner and Fasolt, who have built a new castle for the gods, are coming to claim their payment. They have been promised Freia, the goddess of youth and beauty, as recompense for their labour. Loge, the cunning god of fire, appears. He announces that Alberich has stolen the Rhinegold. At this news, the giants change their demands. If they can have the gold, they will give back Freia.

Wotan and Loge descend to Nibelheim, the realm of the Nibelungs under the earth, where the dwarf has had a ring forged from the gold. His brother Mime has made the Tarnhelm – whoever wears it can take on any shape he chooses. Loge asks Alberich if, by wearing the Tarnhelm, he could transform himself into something very small. With a scornful laugh, the dwarf changes himself into a toad. Loge and Wotan catch it, and overpower Alberich.

Alberich gives Wotan the Rhinegold. When the god also seizes the Tarnhelm and the ring, he is furious and puts a curse on the ring and any who own it in the future. The giants are given the gold, but are angry when they notice the ring on Wotan’s finger. Erda, the earth goddess, appears. She warns Wotan against keeping the ring, and he reluctantly gives it to the giants. In greed, Fafner kills his brother Fasolt and leaves with the loot. The gods look on in horror, as the ring’s curse begins to work. Now that they have Freia back, they prepare to enter Valhalla, their new home. Loge watches them. He knows the gods have lost their innocence and that their end is nigh. From the depths of the river, the Rhinemaidens lament the loss of their gold.

This production has been made possible by the financial support of the Province of Overijssel.