“Das Rheingold” (‘The Rhine Gold’) is the one of the four operas composed by Richard Wagner, which constitute the “Ring of the Nibelungs”. This recording dates back to the Bayreuth Festival in 1952, featuring Werner Uhde, Ira Malaniuk, Werner Faulhaber, Wolfgang Windgassen, Erich Witte, conducted by Joseph Keilberth.
This recording is hailed as a quintessential work by opera aficionados.
The gold from the depths of the river Rhine can only be tamed by him who renounces love, bestowing upon him riches and limitless power. Nibelung dwarf Alberich took possession of it to forge himself a ring. When the ruler of gods, Wotan, tricks Alberich out of it, the latter lays a curse on the ring and its successive bearers.
J.R.R. Tolkien drew his inspiration from this mythology for his best-seller trilogy “Lord of the Ring”.
2cd set, appr. running time 122 min. The Rhinegold from the depths of the river Rhine can only by tamed by him who renounces love – the Nibelung dwarf Alberich, who forges the gold into a ring which makes him omnipotent. When the ruler of gods, Wotan, tricks Alberich out of his ring, Alberich curses the ring and those who bear it.
Sounds familiar? Well, part of this mythology was used by J.R.R. Tolkien for his “Lord of the Ring” trilogy!