Die Walküre, The Valkyrie: Character Map
Die Walküre, The Valkyrie: Roles
| Humans | ||
|---|---|---|
| Siegmund | son of Wotan | tenor |
| Sieglinde | daughter of Wotan | soprano |
| Hunding | husband of Sieglinde | bass |
| Gods | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wotan | ruler of the gods | baritone |
| Fricka | wife to Wotan | mezzo-soprano |
| Valkyries | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brünnhilde | Daughter of Wotan via Erda | soprano |
| Gerhilde | Daughter of Wotan | soprano |
| Ortlinde | Daughter of Wotan | soprano |
| Waltraute | Daughter of Wotan | mezzo-soprano |
| Schwertleite | Daughter of Wotan | contralto |
| Helmwige | Daughter of Wotan | soprano |
| Siegrune | Daughter of Wotan | mezzo-soprano |
| Grimgerde | Daughter of Wotan | mezzo-soprano |
| Roßweiße | Daughter of Wotan | mezzo-soprano |
- Native title: Die Walküre
- Composers: Richard Wagner
- Librettist: Richard Wagner
- Based on: Nordic and German legends
- Language: German
- Premiere: June 26, 1870, National Theatre Munich
- Running time: 3 hours 50 minutes (Act 1: 65 minutes, Act 2: 95 minutes, Act 3: 70 minutes)
Die Walküre, The Valkyrie: Short Synopsis
Events before the main story
Wotan went to see Erda. He got information about the ring from her. Wotan had a daughter, Brünnhilde, with Erda.
He decides to leave the task of retrieving the ring to the humans. Wotan impersonates a wolf clan and gives birth to twin siblings with a human. The woman dies the twin siblings are separated. Wotan sticks his sword in a tree in his daughter’s house and leaves. He then tells his son, “If you are in trouble, you will find the sword that promised you victory,” and he goes away.
Die Walküre
After escaping from a storm, the elder brother Siegmund arrives at the home of his sister Sieglinde. They fall in love, unaware that they are blood-related. At Sieglinde’s house, the sword left behind by Wotan sticks in a tree. Siegmund and his sister’s husband decide to duel. Siegmund gets the sword and marries her.
Wotan, watching them, orders the Valkyrie Brünnhilde to give Siegmund the victory.
Wotan and his wife argue over Siegmund. Wotan says he wants to help Siegmund because he needs someone who has nothing to do with him to get the ring. But his wife Fricka says that because you are involved, the siblings are stronger. Wotan gives up on helping Siegmund.
Wotan reiterates to Brünnhilde that she should not help Siegmund.
Brünnhilde goes to sentence Siegmund to death as the order but is moved by the passion of Siegmund’s love and decides to save them both. In a duel between Siegmund and her sister’s husband, Brünnhilde tries to save Siegmund, but Wotan suddenly appears and brings death to Siegmund. Sieglinde also wishes for death, but Brünnhilde tells her that a child is in her belly.
Wotan is angry that Brünnhilde disobeyed his orders. He makes his daughter lose her divine powers, her into a long sleep, and marries and serves the man who awakens her. Brünnhilde asks him to surround the place where she sleeps with flames. Wotan grants his daughter’s wish and leaves.