Opera Guide and Synopsis: The Valkyrie, by Richard Wagner

Die Walkürie (The Valkyrie) is the second opera of Richard Wagner's The Ring of the Niebelung (Der Ring des Niebelungen). The libretto was written in 1852, the third of the completed libretti (which Wagner wrote beginning with the Ring Cycle's final opera, Götterdämmerung). Although Wagner wished for the operas to be taken as a single story and thus premiered and performed together, The Valkyrie premiered on June 26, 1870 at the wishes of King Ludwig of Barvaria. The entire cycle was not performed as a whole until August 1876.

Characters in Die Walkürie

• Siegmund, son of Wotan by a mortal woman (Tenor)
• Sieglinde, his long-lost twin sister, wife of Hunding (Soprano)
• Hunding, a hunter (Bass)
• Wotan, king of the gods (Bass-baritone)
• Fricka, his wife (Mezzo-soprano)
• Brünnhilde, the chief of the Valkyrie (Soprano)
• Other Valkyrie (Soprano and Mezzo-soprano)

Backstory to Die Walkürie

Between the end of Das Rheingold and the beginning of Die Walkürie, Wotan has had nine daughters with Erda, the earth goddess. These are his Valkyrie, who bring heroes slain in battle to Valhalla where they can protect the gods. He has also walked among the humans under the name Wälse, and fathered twins, Siegmund and Sieglinde, the Wälsunds, who have since been separated. They are destined to produce a hero who can recover the Rheingold from the giants.

Synopsis of Die Walkürie

Act I

Siegmund stumbles into Hunding's hut. Sieglinde gives him a drink, and we hear the first stirrings of their love motive. Hunding returns. Siegmund identifies himself as Wehwalt ("Woeful") and tells the story of his heritage. He defended a woman forced into an unwanted marriage and is on the run. Hunding recognizes him as an enemy, but gives him sanctuary for the night with a promise to fight him in the morning.

Sieglinde gives Hunding a sleeping potion. She returns to see Siegmund eyeing the sword, Nothung, which the Wanderer (Wotan) stuck into a tree during her wedding. They recognize each other as siblings, children of Wotan. Siegmund pulls the sword from the tree, and they fall into each other's arms.

Act II

Wotan commands Brünnhilde to protect Siegmund in the fight with Hunding. Fricka, however, is the protector of marriage, and asks Wotan to punish Siegmund for sleeping with his sister Sieglinde. Wotan reluctantly agrees, and commands Brünnhilde to ensure that Siegmund loses the fight.

Brünnhilde tells Siegmund that she can take him to Valhalla to be with the other fallen heroes. He rejects her offer because it means he can no longer be with Sieglinde. Inspired by his bravery, Brünnhilde decides to go against her father's wishes and help Siegmund. Wotan steps in and shatters Siegmung's sword, Nothung, so that Hunding can kill him. He then kills Hunding as well.

Act III

Brünnhilde brings Sieglinde to the other Valkyrie and begs them to protect her, for she is now pregnant with Siegfried, who will become a great hero. They send Sieglinde to the forest where she will be safe from Wotan.

Wotan punishes Brünnhilde by making her mortal and putting her into an enchanted sleep. Surrounded by walls of flame, she can only be rescued by the bravest hero - but when he wakes her with a kiss, she will belong to him.

Sources

Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goers' Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.

Newman, Ernest. Stories of the Great Operas and Their Composers. Garden City: Garden City Publishing Co., Inc., 1930.