So what do you think is on my mind today?

From Scene 1: Rheingold

Woglinde
Nur wer der Minne Macht entsagt,
nur wer der Liebe Lust verjagt,
nur der erzielt sich den Zauber,
zum Reif zu zwingen das Gold.

.......

Alberich
Das Licht lösch' ich euch aus;
entreisse dem Riff das Gold,
schmeide den rächenden Ring;
denn hör' es die Flut: so verfluch' ich die Liebe!

I've been listening to my Solti recording to remind myself of the details, from the opening triad chord, which gives such a benign and melodious commencement to seventeen hours of pleasure (or hell, depending on one's viewpoint) to the march over the rainbow bridge to the spurious haven of Valhalla.

I found these illustrations by Arthur Rackham, from around 1910:

The Rheinmaidens tease Alberich

Loge, Wotan and Alberich as a serpent

The Rheinmaidens plead fruitlessly with Wotan to recover their gold

Posted by nathan at October 20, 2002 12:08 PM

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