Compositions

Siegfried (Karl Bohm)

Siegfried (Karl Bohm)
Year:1876
Genre:Opera
Opus:WWV086 C
Composer:Richard Wagner
Conductor:Karl Bohm
Performers:
 

Libretto

Siegfried is the third of the four operas that comprise Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Richard Wagner. It received its premiere at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus on 16 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of The Ring.

Act 1

Mime, Alberich's brother, is forging a blade in his cave within the forest. The Nibelung dwarf is plotting to obtain the Ring for himself, having raised Siegfried to kill Fafner for him. He needs a sword for Siegfried to use, but the youth has broken every blade he has made. Siegfried returns from his wanderings in the forest, demanding to know his parentage, and Mime is forced to explain how he took in Siegfried's mother, Sieglinde, who died giving birth. He shows Siegfried the broken pieces of Nothung, which he obtained from her, and Siegfried orders him to reforge the sword.
 

Siegfried departs, leaving Mime in despair: it is beyond his skill to repair Nothung. An old man (Wotan in disguise) arrives ar the door and introduces himself as the Wanderer. In return for the hospitality due a guest he wagers his head on answering any three questions or riddles from Mime. The dwarf agrees in order to dispose of his unwelcome guest. He asks the Wanderer to name the races that live beneath the ground, on the surface, and the skies. These are the Nibelung, the Giants, and the Gods, as the Wanderer correctly answers. Mime tells the Wanderer to be on his way but is forced to wager his own head on three more riddles for breaking the law of hospitality. The Wanderer asks him to name the race most beloved of Wotan, but most harshly treated; the name of the blade that can destroy Fafner; and the person who can make the blade. Mime gives the answer to the first two questions: the Wälsungs and Nothung. However, he is unable to answer the last. Wotan spares Mime, telling him that only "he who does not know fear" can reforge Nothung, and leaves Mime's head forfeit to that person.

Siegfried returns and is annoyed by Mime's lack of progress. Mime realizes that the one thing he has not taught Siegfried is fear. He tells Siegfried that fear is an essential craft; Siegfried is eager to learn it, and Mime promises to teach him by bringing him to Fafner the dragon. Since Mime was unable to forge Nothung, Siegfried decides to do it himself. He succeeds by shredding the metal, melting it, and casting it anew. In the meantime, Mime, realizing that by the terms of his agreement with the Wanderer his head is now forfeit to Siegfried, brews a poisoned drink to offer Siegfried after the youth has defeated the dragon. After he finishes forging the sword, Siegfried demonstrates its strength by chopping the anvil in half with it.

Act 2

The Wanderer arrives at the entrance to Fafner's cave, where Alberich is keeping a vigil. The old enemies quickly recognize each other. Alberich blusters, boasting of his plans for ruling the World once the Ring is returned to him. Wotan calmly states that he does not intend to obtain the Ring. To Alberich's surprise, Wotan wakes Fafner and informs the dragon that a hero is coming to fight him. Fafner dismisses the threat, refuses to surrender the Ring to Alberich, and returns to sleep. Both Wotan and Alberich depart.

At daybreak, Siegfried and Mime arrive. Mime decides to draw back while Siegfried confronts the dragon. As Siegfried waits for the dragon to appear, he notices a woodbird in a tree. Befriending it, he attempts to mimic the bird's song using a reed pipe, but is unsuccessful. He then plays a tune on his horn, which brings Fafner out of his cave. After a short exchange, they fight, and Siegfried stabs Fafner in the heart with Nothung.

In his last moments, Fafner learns Siegfried's name, and tells him to beware of treachery. When Siegfried draws his sword from the corpse, his hands are burned by the dragon's blood, and he instinctively puts them to his mouth. On tasting the blood, he finds that he can understand the woodbird's song. Following its instructions, he takes the Ring and the Tarnhelm from Fafner's hoard. Outside the cave, Alberich and Mime quarrel loudly over the treasure. Alberich hides as Siegfried comes out of the cave. Mime greets Siegfried; Siegfried complains that he has still not learned the meaning of fear. Mime offers him the poisoned drink. However, the dragon's blood allows Siegfried to read Mime's treacherous thoughts, and he stabs him to death. Alberich, observing from offstage, shouts sadistic laughter. Siegfried then throws Mime's body into the treasure cave and places Fafner's body in the cave entrance to block it as well.

The woodbird now sings of a woman sleeping on a rock surrounded by magic fire. Siegfried, wondering if he can learn fear from this woman, heads toward the mountain.

Act 3

The Wanderer appears on the path to Brünnhilde's rock and summons Erda, the earth goddess. Erda, appearing confused, is unable to offer any advice. Wotan informs her that he no longer fears the end of the gods; indeed, it is his desire. His heritage will be left to Siegfried the Walsung, and their child, Brünnhilde, will "work the deed that redeems the World." Dismissed, Erda sinks back into the earth.

Siegfried arrives, and the Wanderer questions the youth. Siegfried, who does not recognize his grandfather, answers insolently and starts down the path towards Brünnhilde's rock. The Wanderer blocks his path, but Siegfried breaks Wotan's spear with a blow from Nothung. Wotan calmly gathers up the pieces and vanishes.

Siegfried enters the ring of fire, emerging on Brünnhilde's rock. At first, he thinks the armored figure is a man. However, when he removes the armor, he finds a woman beneath. Uncertain about what to do, Siegfried at last experiences fear. In desperation, he kisses Brünnhilde, waking her from her magic sleep. Hesitant at first, Brünnhilde is won over by Siegfried's love, and renounces the world of the gods. Together, they hail "light-bringing love, and laughing death."

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ACT I

1 01-Vorspiel 4:00 5.49 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
2 02-Zwangvolle Plage! 6:11 8.50 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
3 03-Nun tobst du wieder wie toll 2:54 3.99 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
4 04-Vieles lehrtest du, Mime 5:18 7.28 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
5 05-Wo hast du nun, Mime, dein minniges Weibchen 5:02 6.91 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
6 06-So starb meine Mutter an mir 2:45 3.77 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
7 07-Das gab mir deine Mutter 3:42 5.08 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
8 08-Heil dir, weiser Schmied! 3:38 4.99 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
9 09-Hier sitz'ich am Herd 6:01 8.27 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
10 10-Viel, Wanderer, weisst du mir 3:58 5.45 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
11 11-Was zu wissen dir frommt, solltest du fragen 5:31 7.58 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
12 12-Notung heisst ein neidliches Schwert 2:14 3.06 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
13 13-Nach eitlen Fernen forschtest du 1:54 2.61 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
14 14-Verfluchtes Licht! Was tlammt dort die Luft 4:11 5.75 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
15 15-Fuehltest du nie im finstren Wald 4:35 6.29 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
16 16-Her mit den Stuecken, fort mit dem Stuemper! 3:25 4.70 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
17 17-Notung! Notung! Neidliches Schwert! 7:38 10.48 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
18 18-Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Hohei! 2:50 3.89 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
19 19-Den der Bruder schulf, den schimmernden Reif! 3:07 4.29 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 

ACT II

1 20-Vorspiel 4:50 6.63 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
2 21-In Wald und Nacht vor Neidhoehl'halt'ich Wacht 4:47 6.56 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
3 22-Durch Vetrages Treuerunen 5:24 7.41 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
4 23-Fafner, Fafner! Erwache Wurm 2:03 2.83 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
5 24-Ich lieg'und besitz', lass mich schlafen! 3:36 4.94 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
6 25-Wir sind zur Stelle! Bleib hier stehn! 3:25 4.69 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
7 26-He, du Alter! Ist das alles 2:25 3.32 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
8 27-Dass der mein Vater nicht ist 1:44 2.39 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
9 28-Aber, wie sah meine Mutterwohl aus 2:44 3.75 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
10 29-Du holdes Voeglein! Dich hoert'ich noch nie 3:01 4.15 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
11 30-Es schweigt und lauscht 2:32 3.49 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
12 31-Siegfried Hornruf 1:35 2.18 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
13 32-Haha! Da haette mein Lied mir was Liebes erblasen! 2:15 3.10 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
14 33-Da lieg, neidischer Kerl 5:11 7.12 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
15 34-Zur Kunde taugt kein Toter 1:59 2.72 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
16 35-Wohin schleichst du so eilig und schlau 4:49 6.62 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
17 36-Willkommen, Siegfried! 3:01 4.15 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
18 37-Das sagt'ich doch nicht 3:48 5.22 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
19 38-Neides Zoll zahlt Notung 6:05 8.35 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
20 39-Hei! Siegfried erschlug nun den schlimmen Zwerg! 3:51 5.28 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 

ACT III

1 40-Vorspiel 2:10 2.98 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
2 41-Wache, Wala! Wala! Erwach! 2:02 2.80 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
3 42-Stark ruft das Lied 9:30 13.05 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
4 43-Dir Unweisen ruf'ich ins Ohr 3:32 4.85 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
5 44-Dort seh'ich Sieffried nahn 0:58 1.33 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
6 45-Mein Voeglein schwebte mir fort! 5:43 7.86 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
7 46-Kenntest du mich, kuehner Spross 5:32 7.60 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
8 47-Orchesterzwischenspiel 2:44 3.74 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
9 48-Einleitung 2:27 3.37 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
10 49-Selige Oede auf sonniger Hoeh'! 3:55 5.37 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
11 50-Das ist kein Mann 7:10 9.84 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
12 51-Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht 5:32 7.59 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
13 52-O Siegfried! Siegfried! Seliger Held! 5:53 8.07 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
14 53-Dort seh'ich Grane, mein selig Ross 7:47 10.68 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 
15 54-Ewig war ich, ewig bin ich 10:53 14.95 Mb 192 Kbps buy
 

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