Götterdämmerung facts for kids
Götterdämmerung is a famous opera by Richard Wagner. It's the fourth and final part of a big story told through operas, called Der Ring des Nibelungen (which means The Ring of the Nibelung). This opera continues the story from the third one, Siegfried. "Götterdämmerung" is a German word. It means "Ragnarök", or "Twilight of the Gods".
This opera is the longest of the four, lasting about five hours! It has a prologue (an introduction) and three acts. Wagner finished writing it in 1874. It was first performed on August 17, 1876.
Contents
The Story of the Opera
The Prologue
The three Norns are daughters of Erda, the Earth Goddess. They are spinning a special rope of destiny. This rope shows what will happen in the future. Each Norn takes a turn telling parts of the story, spinning the rope as they sing.
The first Norn tells how Wotan, the chief god, lost an eye. He gave it up to drink from the Well of Wisdom. Then he cut a spear from a tree, which caused the tree to die. The second Norn explains how a young hero broke Wotan’s spear. She also tells how the gods were sent from Valhalla to chop down the World Ash. The third Norn says that the logs from the ash tree are piled around Valhalla. They are ready for a big fire that will burn everything. The Norns see visions of the future, but then their rope breaks. The Norns disappear into the earth.
Brünnhilde and Siegfried come out of a cave. They were left there at the end of the third opera. Siegfried needs to go off and do more heroic deeds. He gives Brünnhilde the magic ring to show his love for her. She gives him her horse, named Grane. Siegfried then travels down the river Rhine.
Act One
Act One happens in the Hall of the Gibichung palace. Gunther is the leader of the Gibichungs. His half-brother Hagen tells him he should get married to look more important. Hagen also says that Gunther’s sister, Gutrune, should marry too. He tells Gunther about Brünnhilde. Hagen believes she is still asleep on a rock, surrounded by fire. Only Siegfried could get through this fire.
Hagen suggests that if they can get Siegfried to marry Gutrune, she could convince him to get Brünnhilde for Gunther. He says they could give Siegfried a special potion (a drink). This drink would make him forget he loved Brünnhilde.
They hear Siegfried’s horn outside, and the great hero arrives. Siegfried asks Hagen if he knows him, and Hagen says yes. Siegfried is carrying the magic tarn helmet. This helmet lets a person change their shape or become invisible. Siegfried doesn't know what the helmet can do, so Hagen explains it to him. Gutrune appears and offers Siegfried a drink. It is the potion that will make him forget any other woman. He drinks it, wishing good health to Brünnhilde.
As soon as he drinks it, he looks at Gutrune and falls in love with her. He agrees to marry her. He also agrees to help Gunther find a wife. Hagen tells him about Brünnhilde on the rock. Siegfried has forgotten about her completely. He agrees to wear the tarn helmet and pretend to be Gunther. Then he will go and get Brünnhilde. He leaves, with Hagen guarding the palace.
The next scene is on top of the Valkyrie rock. Brünnhilde’s sister, Waltraute, arrives on a flying horse. She says that Wotan, their father and the chief God, returned to Valhalla with his spear broken. She explains that Wotan told the gods to pile up logs from the World Ash tree. These logs are for a fire that will burn everything. Wotan desperately wants the ring to be given back to the Rhine Maidens. They were the guardians of the gold from which the ring was made. Brünnhilde refuses to give Waltraute the ring. It was a gift from Siegfried, a sign of their love. Waltraute then disappears.
After the weather calms, the flames flicker again. Siegfried arrives, looking like Gunther. Brünnhilde is shocked to see someone she thinks is a stranger. Siegfried says she is his bride. He forces the ring from her finger and pulls her into a cave for the night. However, he places his sword between them.
Act Two
Back at the palace, Alberich tries to convince his son Hagen to get the ring. Hagen wants the ring, but only for himself. Siegfried arrives. He is no longer wearing the tarn helmet, so he looks like himself again. Hagen blows his horn to call his soldiers for a celebration. Gunther is to marry Brünnhilde, and Siegfried is to marry Gutrune.
Brünnhilde cannot understand why Siegfried is doing this. She sees the ring on his finger and asks him how he got it. She thinks Gunther took it from her. Siegfried says he won it by killing a dragon. He tells everyone how he tricked Brünnhilde. He also swears that a sword lay between them during the night. Brünnhilde tries to make people think otherwise.
Brünnhilde is left alone with Gunther and Hagen. She tells them that Siegfried is very strong. He is impossible to kill in battle, but he has one weak spot on his back. Gunther doesn't like the idea of killing Siegfried. But Hagen promises him that he can then have the ring. They decide to kill Siegfried. They will tell Gutrune that a wild boar killed him.
Act Three
The last act takes place in a wild forest. Siegfried’s hunting horn is heard, followed by the Gibichungs' hunting horn. By the river, Siegfried meets the Rhine Maidens. He teases them by showing them the ring, but he won't let them have it. They tell him about the curse on the ring, but Siegfried doesn't believe them.
He meets Hagen. They drink together. Siegfried tells the men all about his life. He talks about how Mime raised him, about his sword, the dragon, and the bird singing. Then he can't remember any more. Hagen gives him another drink. This drink makes him start to remember what really happened. He remembers Brünnhilde and how he found her surrounded by fire. He slowly realizes how he has been tricked. He feels a terrible sadness. Two ravens fly overhead. Hagen then plunges his spear into Siegfried’s back. Siegfried dies, speaking Brünnhilde’s name. His body is carried off to a funeral march.
Back at the palace, Siegfried’s body is brought in. Gutrune accuses Gunther of murdering him. But Gunther says Hagen did it. Hagen tries to snatch the ring from the dead Siegfried’s finger. Gunther tries to stop him but Hagen murders him. Hagen tries again to snatch the ring. But to everyone’s horror, the dead hero’s arm rises in the air.
Brünnhilde enters. She tells everyone how she promised Siegfried her love. Gutrune curses Hagen and falls onto her brother’s dead body. Brünnhilde orders a funeral pyre (a fire) to be prepared. She sings to Wotan that Siegfried is now at peace in death. She says she understands more now. She takes the ring and promises to return it to the Rhine Maidens. She lights the fire, which flares up. She rides her horse Grane into the flames.
The whole building catches fire, and the Rhine river overflows. Hagen jumps into the water, trying to get the ring from the Rhine Maidens, but he drowns. The flood goes down. Valhalla, the gods’ palace, is lit up by the fire. The gods and heroes die in the flames. The Twilight of the Gods has now happened.
The Music
The music in this long opera is very cleverly put together. Musical ideas flow into each other and combine to tell the story. Many of the tunes have been heard in the other three operas. It is a very tiring opera to sing, especially for Brünnhilde. There are usually two long breaks during a performance. The orchestra is very large and includes eight harps.
The Other Operas
- The whole series of operas is called Der Ring des Nibelungen.
- The first opera in the series is Das Rheingold.
- The second opera in the series is Die Walküre.
- The third opera in the series is Siegfried.
Images for kids
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The Norns vanish (Arthur Rackham, 1911)
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Brünnhilde is visited by her Valkyrie sister Waltraute (Arthur Rackham, 1912)
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Stage design by Josef Hoffmann for original production in 1876 – Act II, Scene 2
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The Rhinemaidens warn Siegfried (Arthur Rackham, 1912)
See also
In Spanish: El ocaso de los dioses para niños
