Wagner: Das Rheingold, auf ENGLISCH animiert

Habt ihr den "Merrie Melodies/Looney Tunes" animierte Bugs Bunny Trickfilm gesehen? Ich wollte den Film hier inkludieren, aber bei YOUTUBE bleibt den Film geschlossen.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THIS CARTOON CLASSIC.

Das Rheingold is the Prelude to Richard Wagner's most famous opera, THE RING OF THE NIBELUNG, which is itself a trilogy of these 3 operas Die Walküre, Sigfried, and Götterdämmerung (The Demise of the Gods). It plays annually in Bayreuth, in Wagner's own performance house built for him by "Mad" Prince Ludwig.

Teil 1

Alberich, a dwarf from Nibelheim in the depths, rises to watch the Rheinmädchen, who guard the precious and powerful Rheingold. When the lovely mermaids refuse Alberich's attentions, he overhears them singing about how water diffuses the gold's real power; and should someone steal it and at the same time give up all expectations for love, one could learn the gold's secrets (potentially fashioning from it a ring with which to rule the world). All of this is what Alberich does.

On top of Mt Olympis Loge, the fire god had enticed Wotan, the conqueror of all gods, to permit the Giants, Fafner and Fasolt, to build the gods a palace (Walhalla) in the sky. All agree on the price, which is that the giants will be able to claim Wotan's sister-in-law, the lovely Freia, the goddess of youth and beauty, something Wotan's wife, Fricka, will never support. The larger problem is that all gods in Walhall depend on Freia's apples. Only by consuming one of these each day, can they maintain their youth. With Freia gone, all gods then are doomed.




TEIL 2

How could Wotan have struck such a bargain with the giants? His wily assistant, the fire god, Loge, convinced him that they'd manage a bait and switch. What Loge came up with was Alberich's Rheingold. The Giants agree to the switch, but take Freia as collateral.

Wotan and Loge visit Nibelung. Loge outsmarts Alberich and is able to capture the Rheingold...



Teil 3

Yes, along with the Ring... but not before Alberich puts a terrible curse on the ring. The giants appear with Freia, and will accept the ring only if it is sufficient quantity such that they can no longer see her. There remains a single crevice and Wotan must sacrifice the ring.

With a bit more prodding from Loge, the curse of the Ring continues.

With Valhalla finally paid for, the gods may finally move into their new home. But the Rheinmädchen aren't particularly satisfied.



Here's the American National Symphony Orchestra playing Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries in Washington DC.