1. Der Ring des Nibelungen Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883). Wanted to be a dramatist, heard Beethoven and changed his mind: “music-drama”! First marriage, Minna, infidelity and debt. 1848 Revolution, exile in Zürich, new operatic style with Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Meistersinger. Mathilde and Tristan und Isolde (1852-63), debt. Ludwig II of Bavaria (64), money, Cosima von Bülow (daughter of Liszt). Munich and Bayreuth. Festspielhaus opens 1876 with Ring Cycle.

2. Der Ring des Nibelungen A tetralogy, one of the most ambitious artistic works ever undertaken, composed from 1848– 1874; a form of “music-drama.” Requires c. 15 hours to perform all 4 operas. New, creative retelling of Germanic myth and legend (and fairy tale), combining elements from the Poetic Edda, Thidriks saga, Volsunga saga, Nibelungenlied, and Grimms’ fairy tales.

3. Der Ring des Nibelungen Musical innovations by Wagner. Theatrical innovations by Wagner. Ring Cycle is durchkomponiert, each act is a complete song without breaks. Gesamtkunstwerk – combining all of the arts into an artistic unity. Wagner used Leitmotifs – long stretches of music composed only of Leitmotifs. New instruments created especially for this work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvA54D2Gz3E

4. Der Ring des Nibelungen King Ludwig II of Bavaria sponsored Wagner and his opera house. Bayreuth Festspielhaus opened in 1876 with the first complete performance of the Ring Cycle. Still performed every year in Bayreuth. Wagner extremely influential in 20 th century opera, concert music, and film scores. Wagner’s music never performed in Israel.

5. This work contains some of the most memorable music every written. http://ringcycle.metoperafamily.org/behind_the_scenes/music

6. Der Ring des Nibelungen The four operas in the Ring cycle are: Das Rheingold The Rhinegold Die Walküre The Valkyrie Siegfried Götterdämmerung Twilight of the Gods

7. Das Rheingold Scene 1 Rhein Maidens

8. Das Rheingold Rhein Maidens

9. Das Rheingold Rhein Maidens Scene 2

10. Das Rheingold Scene 3 Scene 4

11. Die Walküre ACT I. ACT II.

12. Die Walküre Siegmund and Sieglinde ACT III.

13. Die Walküre Images of Valkyries

14. Die Walküre Images of Valkyries

15. Die Walküre Images of Valkyries

16. Siegfried ACT I. ACT II.

17. Siegfried Siegfried and Brünhilde Virginia Wolf as Brünhilde

18. Götterdämmerung Prelude ACT I.

19. Götterdämmerung ACT II.

20. Götterdämmerung ACT III.

21. What's Opera, Doc? (1957) http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1atzuy_what-s-opera-doc_shortfilms