Richard Wagner’s "Götterdämmerung" (The Twilight of the Gods), summary

The musical drama "Götterdämmerung" was composed by Richard Wagner between 1848 and 1874. The opera serves as the final chord of the monumental tetralogy "Der Ring des Nibelungen." A key detail: the libretto — the verbal text of the musical-dramatic work — was written by the author himself, drawing on Germanic-Scandinavian mythology and medieval epic poetry.

The tetralogy’s grand scale has inspired a vast number of theatrical productions worldwide. The celebrated Bayreuth production, directed by Patrice Chéreau and conducted by Pierre Boulez, which celebrated the festival’s centenary in 1976, was released as a video version and won a Grammy Award. In cinema, the title "Götterdämmerung" was used by director Luchino Visconti for his film, a story about the decline of an industrial family, but the film bears only an allegorical connection to the original opera.

Prologue at Brunhilde’s Rock

The three Norns — Erda’s daughters — weave the thread of fate. They sing of the past, present, and future. The thread stretches taut and breaks. The Norns descend underground in fear. Dawn breaks. Siegfried and Brunhilde appear. The hero sets out on new adventures along the Rhine. As a parting gift, he gives his wife the magical Ring of the Nibelungs, and Brunhilde gives him her beloved horse, Grane.

Hagen’s Conspiracy and the Drink of Oblivion

The Gibichungs’ castle stands on the banks of the Rhine. Gunther, his sister Gutrune, and their half-brother Hagen discuss their affairs. Hagen is the secret son of the dwarf Alberich. The cunning Hagen suggests that Gunther marry the mighty Brunhilda. He advises Gutrune to marry Siegfried, whose horn soon sounds nearby before the hero’s arrival. The wily Hagen gives the hero a cup containing a potion of oblivion. After drinking the potion, Siegfried completely forgets Brunhilda and falls passionately in love with the beautiful Gutrune. Siegfried and Gunther swear eternal blood brotherhood. The hero promises to procure Brunhilda for his friend using the Helm of Invisibility — a magical artifact capable of changing the wearer’s appearance.

Meanwhile, the Valkyrie Waltraute, Brunnhilde’s sister, appears on Brunnhilde’s rock. She asks for the ring to be given to the Rhinemaidens. Only this act can avert disaster from the supreme god Wotan and save the world. But the ring is a pledge of Siegfried’s love. The proud Brunnhilde refuses this gift. Waltraute flies away in despair. Soon, Siegfried, disguised as Gunther, bursts through the flames to the rock. He takes the ring from Brunnhilde by force.

Oath on the Spear and the Wrath of the Valkyrie

Night falls on the banks of the Rhine. Hagen, sleeping, is visited by his father, the dwarf Alberich. He commands his son to obtain the ring of power at any cost. In the morning, the real Siegfried returns. Hagen summons his vassals to a lavish wedding. Soon, a boat arrives with Gunther and Brunhilde. The dejected woman notices Siegfried with Gutrune. Then she sees the coveted ring on the hero’s hand. Brunhilde accuses Siegfried of breaking his oath, declaring to all present that he is her true husband.

Siegfried has no memory of their past. The hero swears his absolute innocence on the tip of Hagen’s spear. He vows to die by that spear if his words are false. Siegfried takes Gutrune to the castle to celebrate their wedding. Insulted and humiliated, Brunhilda, Gunther, and the gloomy Hagen conspire to kill Siegfried. Brunhilda reveals the hero’s secret: his weak spot is his back. She cast a spell that made Siegfried invulnerable from the front, as he never turns away from an enemy in a fair fight.

Hunting by the River and the Death of the Hero

In the wooded valley of the Rhine River, three mermaids — Woglinde, Velgunde, and Flosshild — splash. These Rhinemaidens beg Siegfried to give them the ring, prophesying his imminent death. The hero laughs at their warnings and refuses to return the treasure. A hunting party with Gunther and Hagen approaches the river. Hagen asks the hero to tell stories of his past exploits. Siegfried recalls his childhood, his upbringing with the dwarf Mime, and his victory over the dragon Fafner.

Hagen mixes the juice of special herbs into Siegfried’s drink. The potion restores the hero’s memory. Siegfried sings of Brünnhilde’s awakening on the fiery rock. At that moment, Hagen draws the assembled crowd’s attention to Wotan’s ravens flying past. When Siegfried turns away to look at the birds, Hagen plunges his spear straight into his back. The mortally wounded hero falls onto his shield. The dying Siegfried’s final thoughts are of his beloved Brünnhilde. The vassals — the feudal lord’s dependent warriors and servants — carry the hero’s body to the castle in deep grief, accompanied by the sounds of a funeral march.

The Atoning Sacrifice and the End of the Gods

At the castle, Gutrune mourns the death of her husband. A dispute breaks out between Hagen and Gunther over the golden ring. Hagen kills Gunther and reaches for the treasure. But Siegfried’s dead hand suddenly rises. Hagen retreats in horror. Brunhilda appears, having realized the truth about the potion of oblivion and Hagen’s treachery. She orders her vassals to build a huge funeral pyre on the banks of the Rhine.

Brunnhilde takes Siegfried’s ring and places it on her finger. She promises that the fire will cleanse the treasure of its curse, and the Rhinemaidens will be able to retrieve it from the ashes. Brunnhilde lights the pyre, mounts her faithful horse, Grane, and leaps into the raging flames. The fire soars to the heavens. The river overflows its banks, dousing the blazing pyre. Hagen, panicked, dives into the water for the ring. The mermaids drag him to the deep bottom. Flosshild holds the newly found ring. A blinding glow erupts in the sky: Valhalla is engulfed in flames. The gods perish in the great blaze.