from Scene 4 of the German opera Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Alberich, a Nibelung, brother of Mime

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: dramatic baritone

Setting: an open spot on a mountaintop, Germany, mythical times

Synopsis: After Wotan and Loge chain him and take both his magic gold and magic ring from him, Alberich angrily curses the ring, saying that any person (or god) who owns the ring will be cursed to die.

from Scene 3 of the German opera Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Alberich, a Nibelung, brother of Mime

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: dramatic baritone

Setting: Nibelheim, home of the Nibelungs, Germany, mythical times

Synopsis: Alberich becomes angry at his work crew and violently orders them to get back to work.

from Scene 4 of the German opera Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Erda, the goddess of the earth

Voice Part: contralto       Fach: contralto

Setting: an open spot on a mountaintop, Germany, mythical times

Synopsis: Erda rises from the earth to give a warning to Wotan and the rest of the gods. She cautions that if Wotan continues to have anything to do with the magic all-powerful Ring of the Nibelungs, the gods will be eventually thrown from power.

from Scene 2 of the German opera Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Loge, demigod of fire

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor

Setting: atop the mountain of the Gods, Germany, mythical times

Synopsis: The giants Fasolt and Fafner come to demand the goddess Freia in return for a service that they had done for the gods. However, the gods do not want to give her up and Loge entices them with the story of the Rhinegold, hoping that they will go after it instead of taking Freia. Loge says that if anyone can make a ring out of the gold and give up women, they will have incredible power. He also mentions that Alberich, a dwarf, has done just that and now has a ring of his own.

from Scene 3 of the German opera Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner

Libretto: Richard Wagner

Role: Mime, a Nibelung, brother of Alberich

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: buffo tenor

Setting: Nibelheim, home of the Nibelungs, Germany, mythical times

Synopsis: After Alberich, another dwarf, beats him and then disappears, Mime complains to Wotan and Loge that life in Nibelheim used to be a lot better before Alberich got his magic ring. Mime used to be able to produce things at his own pace but now Alberich forces him to work all the time.