Das Rheingold

October 01. 2016 - October 22. 2016

Swipe

October 01. 2016 - October 22. 2016

- Overview
- Videos
- Audio
- Articles
- Synopsis
- Artists

New Production Das Rheingold

Join us for an extraordinary story told over the course of four individual operas. Together, they comprise Wagner’s magnificent Ring cycle, one of the greatest musical achievements in Western culture and an artistic journey that every opera lover should experience.

Lyric’s ambitious new Ring starts with Das Rheingold in 2016, conducted by our own celebrated music director, Sir Andrew Davis. We’ll meet the Rhinemaidens, guardians of magical gold that can be transformed into a ring that grants its owner unlimited power. When Alberich steals the gold, the struggle among the legendary characters begins, as Wotan, king of the gods, vies with him for supreme power. Immerse yourself in thrilling drama and music of vast proportions during this first of four new productions from world-renowned director David Pountney.

Language: Performed in German with projected English translations
Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Location: Lyric Opera House

Das Rheingold videos

Swipe

See what critics are saying about Das Rheingold at Lyric Opera

Das Rheingold in Rehearsal

Catch a Behind-the-scenes look at Lyric's new production of Wagner's Das Rheingold.

Marie–Jeanne Lecca on the Costumes of Das Rheingold

Hear from costume designer, Marie-Jeanne Lecca, about her design process for the fabulous costumes in Lyric's Das Rheingold.

Director, David Pountney on What Makes Das Rheingold so great!

In this video, Director, David Pountney, tells you why Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold is such a wonderful opera, especially for first-timers.

Das Rheingold Trailer

The Rhinemaidens are guarding magic gold. If anyone renounces love and then makes the gold into a ring, he will become all-powerful.

3 Things to Listen for with Sir Andrew Davis - Das Rheingold

Das Rheingold

By Richard Wagner

Warner Classics label — John Tomlinson, Hilde Leidland, Annette Küttenbaum, Jane Turner; Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, cond. Daniel Barenboim.
Musical excerpts provided through generous arrangement with Warner Classics, Official Education and Promotion Music Provider for Lyric Opera of Chicago.

"Abendlich strahlt"

0:00 /0:00

Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla

0:00 /0:00

"Lugt, Schwestern”

0:00 /0:00

Das Rheingold

By Richard Wagner

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley Welsh Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

© 2016/17 Lyric Opera Commentaries
Musical excerpts provided through generous arrangement with Warner Classics, Official Education and Promotion Music Provider for Lyric Opera of Chicago. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women's Board.

Commentary by Sir Andrew Davis in collaboration with Jack Zimmerman

0:00 /0:00

Commentary by Colin Ure

0:00 /0:00

Das Rheingold Articles

Swipe

Why Das Rheingold at Lyric is a Must-See Experience

There are loads of reasons you'll want to join us for the first installation of Richard Wagner's epic Ring cycle. Here are just a few.

Das Rheingold Gets Serious on Stage While The Second City Prepares the Laughs

Get a peek at the technical rehearsal for Das Rheingold and learn more about what happens when the creative team at The Second City joins forces with Lyric to take a fresh look at Wagner and his epic Ring.

Ring Up the Curtain!

Das Rheingold launches director David Pountney's brilliantly imaginative new Ring cycle.

The Journey Begins, the Rave Reviews Roll In!

Lyric opened its 62nd season and launched its new Ring cycle with a thrilling new production of Wagner's Das Rheingold. The sold-out house roared its approval with an immediate standing ovation. Rave reviews from national and local critics are pouring in.

Synopsis

The Rhinemaidens are guarding magic gold. If anyone renounces love and then makes the gold into a ring, he will become all-powerful. The Nibelung dwarf Alberich does this, then enslaves his brother Mime and all the other Nibelungs. Wotan, the chief god, hears of the ring and descends to Nibelheim in pursuit of it. After being captured by Wotan and forced to give up the ring, Alberich curses it. Wotan is warned by Erda, the earth-goddess, to avoid the ring. He gives it — and the rest of Alberich’s riches — to the giants, Fasolt and Fafner, as payment for their having built Valhalla, the gods’ newly completed fortress. Fafner kills Fasolt to keep the ring for himself. The gods enter Valhalla with no hint of the catastrophes to come.

TIME AND PLACE: Legendary

The Rhine.

Woglinde and Wellgunde are guarding the gold at the bottom of the Rhine. Flosshilde chides them for negligence when the Nibelung dwarf Alberich appears. The Rhinemaidens quickly realize that lechery has brought the Nibelung to their domain. Sunlight illuminates the gold, and Alberich questions them about it. Wellgunde reveals that the man who renounces love and forges a ring from it will be master of the world. Cursing love, Alberich seizes the gold and rushes away with it.
An open space before Valhalla.

As Wotan awakens, he sees that his dream of a grand, imposing, beautiful, newly completed palace is realized. His wife, Fricka, is alarmed: now that the giants, Fasolt and Fafner, have completed the construction, the fee Wotan promised them must be paid – Fricka’s sister, Freia, goddess of youth and beauty. Wotan assures Fricka that he never seriously intended to sacrifice Freia.

When Freia pleads for protection from the giants, Wotan tells her that Loge, the demi-god of fire, has a plan to save her. The giants arrive, eager for their reward. Wotan suggests some other payment, but Fasolt warns him not to break their contract. The giants want Freia not only for herself, but also for her golden apples that ensure the gods’ eternal youth. When the giants attempt to take Freia with them, she summons her brothers, Donner and Froh, to her defense, but Wotan stifles the kindling violence.

When Loge finally appears, the giants repeat their demand. Loge relates how Alberich stole the gold. The gods and giants feel threatened by the Nibelung’s new power. After convincing Fafner that the gold is more valuable than Freia, Fasolt announces that the two will accept it instead of Freia. Loge tells Wotan that there is only one way to obtain the gold: theft. The giants will return for the gold that evening – meanwhile, they take Freia away as a hostage. Deprived of the apples, the gods begin to age and weaken. Wotan and Loge leave for Nibelheim, Alberich’s subterranean kingdom.
Nibelheim.

Alberich torments his brother Mime, who yields the magic helmet – the Tarnhelm – that Alberich had ordered him to forge. When Alberich dons the Tarnhelm and becomes invisible, he beats his brother mercilessly. Wotan and Loge find Mime groaning in pain. From him they learn that Alberich has enslaved the Nibelungs and forced them to mine the gold, from which the power-hungry dwarf has amassed an enormous hoard for himself.

Alberich ruthlessly drives his workers, but seeing the two gods, he is immediately suspicious. When he describes his helmet’s powers, Loge asks for a demonstration. Alberich then transforms himself first into a dragon, then a toad. Wotan swiftly captures the toad as Loge snatches the helmet. Alberich is restored to his original form and dragged away by the gods as a prisoner.
An open space before Valhalla.

Wotan and Loge inform Alberich that he cannot regain his freedom unless he surrenders his treasures. Trusting the ring’s power to replenish his hoard, Alberich summons the Nibelungs, who appear carrying the gold. Alberich then learns that he must sacrifice the Tarnhelm. When forced to yield the ring, he curses it and whoever possesses it in the future. He leaves, free but powerless.

Fricka, Donner and Froh return, eager to learn the result of Wotan’s mission. The giants arrive with Freia, and Fasolt, who is giving her up reluctantly, demands that the gold be piled so that it will hide her. When her hair gleams through a chink in the pile, Fafner demands that the Tarnhelm fill the opening, but Fafner can still see one of Freia’s eyes. He demands that Wotan close the space with the Nibelung’s ring that the god is wearing on his finger, but Wotan refuses. The earth-goddess Erda appears, reminding Wotan of the curse. He then throws the ring on the pile and reclaims Freia. The giants soon quarrel over the ring, and Fafner kills his brother to possess it before departing with the treasure.

Donner invokes thunder and lightning to clear the sky, so that the gods can properly admire their new home. When it comes into view, Wotan is thrilled. Naming it “Valhalla,” he invites Fricka to dwell there with him. A rainbow bridge appears, and as the gods cross it, they hear the Rhinemaidens pleading for the return of their gold. Loge prophesies the end of the gods. Ordering Loge to silence the Rhinemaidens, Wotan leads the gods as they enter Valhalla with pomp and ceremony.

Program book

Go inside this production of Das Rheingold with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

View Digital Program Book

Meet the artists

Eric Owens

Wotan

American bass-baritone Eric Owens's Lyric credits include eight roles since 2007/08.

Learn More
Samuel Youn

Alberich

South Korean bass-baritone Samuel Youn's Lyric credits include The Queen of Spades (2019/20) and Das Rheingold (2016/17)

Learn More
Stefan Margita

Loge

Slovakian tenor Stefan Margita's Lyric credits include Loge/Das Rheingold (2016|17) and Shuisky/Boris Godunov (2011|12).

Learn More
Tanja Ariane Baumgartner

Fricka

Tanja Ariane Baumgartner's Lyric credits include Fricka/Die Walküre (2017|18) and Das Rheingold (2016|17)

Learn More
Wilhelm Schwinghammer

Fasholt

Bavarian bass Wilhelm Schwinghammer made his Lyric debut as Fasholt/Das Rheingold (2016|17)

Learn More
Tobias Kehrer

Fafner

German bass Tobias Kehrer made his Lyric debut as Fafner/Das Rheingold (2016|17)

Learn More
Sir Andrew Davis

Conductor

Sir Andrew Davis served as music director and principal conductor of Lyric Opera of Chicago from 2000 through the 2020/21 Season.

Learn More
David Pountney

Director

Director David Pountney's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|18). He is both a CBE and a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, has the Cavalier’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, and was awarded the Ehrenkreuz des Bundes Österreich in 2014.

Learn More
Johan Engels

Original Set Designer

Set designer Johan Engles' Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|10) and Die Walkure (2017|18).

Learn More
Robert Innes Hopkins

Set Designer

British Set Designer Robert Innes Hopkins's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|18).

Learn More
Marie-Jeanne Lecca

Costume Designer

Costume designer Marie-Jeanne Lecca's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|19).

Learn More
Fabrice Kebour

Lighting Designer

Lighting designer Fabrice Kebour's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|19). Kebour has received three Molière Award nominations and one Welsh Theatre Award nomination for best lighting design.

Learn More
Denni Sayers

Choreographer

Choreographer Denni Sayers's Lyric credits include Siegfried (2018|19) and Die Walkure (2017|19).

Learn More