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Summary:

Subject: Das Rheingold introduces the ring. The well-known prelude opens with 136 measures of an E-flat major chord: this prolonged harmony represents the ageless river Rhine, upon whose banks the Rhinemaidens play. Alberich, a Nibelung dwarf, tries vainly to seduce one of the Rhinemaidens. Mockingly, they reveal the secret of the gold they guard: out of it, one can forge a ring powerful enough to rule the world, provided the forger gives up Love forever. Alberich manages to steal the gold and makes the ring, using it to control his fellow dwarfs while he plans his world take-over. In the meantime, Wotan (king of the gods), like many new home owners, has to figure out how to finance the construction of Valhalla (hall of the gods). He has promised his sister-in-law as payment to the construction workers, but his wife Fricka isn't too keen on selling her sister to the giants (led by Fafner). Loge (god of fire) tricks Alberich into turning himself into a toad and brings Alberich back to Wotan, who takes the ring from the dwarf. Bitter at losing his ring, Alberich places a curse on it: lack of the ring will fuel desire for it and possession will only lead to misery. Wotan ends up giving the Ring to Fafner as ransom for Fricka's sister.

Author/Creator:

Wagner, Richard, 1813-1883 , composer

Contributors:

Hoff, Mario, 1959- , singer

Günther, Alexander, 1965- , singer

Briend, Jean-Noël , singer

Caves, Erin , singer

Möwes, Tomas, 1951- , singer

Aurich, Frieder , singer

Mészár, Renatus, 1966- , singer

Tsumaya, Hidekazu, 1964- , singer

Hansmann, Christine, 1961- , singer

Zumbült, Marietta , singer

Weissmann, Nadine, 1974- , singer

Michel, Silona , singer

Günther-Dissmeier, Susann , singer

Bassek, Christiane , singer

Grabolle, Luise , singer

Winde, Marie-Louise , singer

Wöllner, Luisa , singer

St. Clair, Carl , conductor

Schulz, Michael, 1966- , stage director

Becker, Dirk, 1964- , designer

Listerdal, Renée, 1961- , costume designer

Riley, Brooks , film director

Staatskapelle Weimar , instrumentalist, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/itr

Deutsches Nationaltheater (Weimar, Thuringia, Germany) , host institution, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/his

RM Arts (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Zoom Production , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Arthaus Musik (Firm) , production company, http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/prn

Languages:

German
English
French
Italian
Spanish

Language Notes:

Sung in German, with optional subtitles in German, English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

Main Work:

Ring des Nibelungen [by Wagner, R.] > Rheingold

Subjects:

Operas

Genres:

Operas

Live sound recordings

System Details:

DVD-9; soundtracks in Dolby digital 5.1, PCM stereo; aspect ratio 16:9.

Performers:

Mario Hoff (Wotan) ; Alexander Günther (Donner) ; Jean-Noël Briend (Froh) ; Erin Caves (Loge) ; Tomas Möwes (Alberich) ; Frieder Aurich (Mime) ; Renatus Mészár (Fasolt) ; Hidekazu Tsumaya (Fafner) ; Christine Hansmann (Fricka) ; Marietta Zumbült (Freia) ; Nadine Weissmann (Erda) ; Silona Michel (Woglinde) ; Susann Günther-Dissmeier (Wellgunde) ; Christiane Bassek (Flosshilde) ; Luise Grabolle, Marie-Louise Winde, Luisa Wöllner (Norns) ; Staatskapelle Weimar ; Carl St. Clair, conductor.

Production Credits:

Stage director, Michael Schulz ; set design, Dirk Becker ; costume design, Renée Listerdal; lighting design, Alexander Gnadl ; dramaturgy, Wolfgang Willaschek; director for TV and video, Brooks Riley; a production of RM Arts and Zoom Production.

General Notes:

Recorded live 2008 Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar, Germany.
Program notes and synopsis in English, French and German (25 pages : illustrations) on container supplement.

Physical Description:

1 videodisc (166 minutes) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.

Physical Characteristics:

plastic; metal; polychrome

Audio Characteristics:

digital; optical; surround; Dolby; PCM stereo

Video Characteristics:

NTSC

Digital Characteristics:

video file; DVD video; all regions

Call Numbers:

MDVD 00980

ISBNs:

9783941311312
394131131X

Other Standard Numbers:

Universal Product Code: 807280135398
Publisher Number, Arthaus Musik: 101 353

OCLC Numbers:

423367512