Gotterdamerung is the fourth and final
part of the Ring Cycle, in which the twists and turns of the other three operas
come to a stupendous, if slightly contrived, conclusion. The usual English
translation of the title is "The Twilight of the Gods", although
other variations on the theme are used on occasion.
Prelude (which makes a change from
leaving us in the dark, which has been Wagner's practice up until now)
The Norns, who control the fate
of both men and gods, weave the thread of life, but it breaks. They therefore
know that the destruction of all things is at hand. Siegfried leaves Brunnhilde
behind so that he can set forth upon new adventures, but he leaves the ring in
her safe keeping. However, he has the invisible cap, his sword Helpneed, and
Brunnhilde's winged steed with him, so he probably reckons that he should be
OK. Big mistake.
Act 1, Scene 1. The court
of King Gunther
Siegfried is welcomed warmly by
powerful King Gunther, but among the company is Hagen, the son of Alberich, who
knows all about Siegfried. He brews a potion for Siegfried that causes him to
forget his past. He therefore loses all memory of Brunnhilde and proceeds to
fall for Gunther's sister, Gutrune, and to ask for her hand in marriage. If you
remember, his parents were pretty quick operators in the love department, too.
The King agrees, but asks for Brunnhilde as his own wife. You might have
thought that Siegfried's answer would be "Who's Brunnhilde?", but he
agrees to go along with Gunther and seals the deal.
Act 1, Scene 2. The mountain pass
Valtraute, one of the Valkyrie,
pleads with Brunnhilde to restore the ring to the Rhine-maidens, as this is the
only thing that can save the gods from destruction. However, Brunnhilde doesn't
see why she should do the gods any favours, given how they have treated her,
and the ring is not hers to give up anyway. Siegfried enters, but he is using
the invisible cap (he hasn't forgotten what that's all about, obviously) to
change his appearance to that of Gunther. She has no intention of coming
quietly but is forced to follow "Gunther" back to the King's court.
The ring is also taken from her finger, which is something else that Siegfried
has not forgotten about.
Act 2. Gunther's court
The King publicly proclaims
Brunnhilde as his Queen, and gives Gutrune's hand to Siegfried. Brunnhilde is
puzzled by all this, understandably enough, especially when she sees the ring
on Siegfried's finger. She has a go at Siegfried, but he is still under the
influence of Hagen
Brunnhilde is now furious with
Siegfried and is happy to listen to Hagen's plot to kill him. Hagen
Act 3. The bank of the Rhine
Siegfried is out hunting, and
is separated from the rest of the court party, when he comes across the
Rhine-maidens who ask him for the ring, pointing out that he can only escape
his own destruction by so doing. Well, it would persuade me, but Siegfried is
made of sterner stuff and he refuses to oblige. Gunther, Hagen and the other
hunters enter and, as they rest from their exertions, they ask Siegfried to relate
his adventures. The potion is starting to wear off and, as Siegfried gets to
the bit about Brunnhilde, he stops, puzzled. Hagen seizes his opportunity and
thrusts his spear between Siegfried's shoulders. As he lies dying, his memory
clears completely and he calls for Brunnhilde. Hagen and Gunther both try to
seize the ring, and in the struggle Gunther is killed.
Gutrune
mourns the loss of her husband and her brother. Brunnhilde, who now knows the
truth, enters and calms everyone down, ordering a funeral pyre to be built for
Siegfried. As it burns, she mounts it and is consumed as well. The waters of
the Rhine rise and engulf everyone, whether
dead or alive, including Hagen who now has the ring.
The
ring is therefore now back with the Rhine-maidens, and in the sky can be seen a
huge blaze as Valhalla and all the gods are destroyed.
©
John Welford
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