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GötterdämmerungOpera in Prologue and Three Acts World Premiere: Bayreuth, Festspielhaus, August 17, 1876 U.S. Premiere: Cincinnati, Music Hall, May 16, 1878 (Act III only) Metropolitan Opera Premiere: March 11, 1889 |
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Cast & Characters
The Cast
Conductor: James Levine
Brünnhilde: Katarina Dalayman
Gutrune: Margaret Jane Wray
Waltraute: Yvonne Naef
Siegfried: Christian Franz
Gunther: Iain Paterson
Hagen: John Tomlinson
The Characters
Three Norns - daughters of Erda.
Gunther - head of the Gibich clan.
Gutrune - Gunther's sister.
Hagen - Gunther's half-brother
Waltraute - A Valkyrie
Gods and Goddesses:
Wotan – ruler of the gods; gave up his one eye to woo Fricka, his
wife.
Fricka – Wotan’s wife; goddess of marriage and family; sister to
Freia.
Brünnhilde – eldest Valkyrie, daughter of Wotan and Erda.
She has eight Valkyrie sisters.
Freia – goddess of youth and beauty; her golden apples keep the
gods young and beautiful.
Donner – god of thunder; he summons the mists which create the rainbow
bridge.
Froh – brother to Donner, Freia, and Fricka.
Loge – god of fire and trickery; his cunning frees Freia from the
giants.
Erda – wise goddess of the earth; she warns Wotan to give up the
ring.
Mortals:
Sieglinde – Wälsung, mortal daughter of Wotan.
Siegmund - Sieglinde's twin brother
Hunding - Sieglinde's husband
Giants:
Fasolt and Fafner – they built Valhalla for Wotan in exchange
for Freia; they agree to accept gold instead.
Rheinmaidens:
Woglinde,Wellgunde, and Flosshilde - The three nymphs who
guard the Rheingold and are pursued by Alberich.
Nibelungen:
Alberich – steals the Rheingold and uses its power to force the other
Nibelungen into his service.
Mime – one of the Nibelungen, a blacksmith who makes the Tarnhelm
for Alberich.

