OpernSalon - Das Rheingold & Die Walküre

This division reveals Wagner's stylistic development over the course of the four operas – whose conception, poetry, and composition accompanied him through various phases and stages of his life for more than twenty years. What does the composer mean by the term "music drama"? Does he perhaps already come closest to this ideal in Rheingold, a pure conversation piece?


The clear pointers of the leitmotifs in Rheingold are gradually replaced by motif combinations, variations, and proliferating overlays – the orchestra develops a stunning independence of meaning up to Götterdämmerung, which Elias Corrinth will explore with his usual expertise and humor.


Other topics include:

Culinary delights and schadenfreude, Fafner's transformation from a fourth to a tritone, Siegfried as Loge's (and Bakunin's) representative, conducting technique and performance tradition, alliteration and mannerism, "major" and "minor" notes, the alliance of the spear-bearers, epic versus dramatic, and fallacy as a formal hinge. Of course, a thorough explanation of the important leitmotifs is essential, so that both connoisseurs and newcomers can look forward to their next Ring performance enriched.