Salmar Theatre’s popular the Met: Live in HD presents Wagner’s Gotterdammerung, Saturday, Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. at the Salmar Classic Theatre.
On the Valkyries’ rock, three Norns spin the rope of Fate, recalling Wotan’s days of power and predicting the end of the gods.
When the rope breaks, they descend in terror to their mother, Erda, goddess of the earth.
At dawn Siegfried and his bride, Brünnhilde, emerge from their cave. Though fearful she may lose the hero, she sends him forth to deeds of valour.
As a token of his love, Siegfried gives Brünnhilde the magic ring he took from Fafner, and she gives him her horse Grane in exchange.
Passionately they bid farewell as Siegfried sets off into the world.
In their castle on the Rhine, Gunther, Lord of the Gibichungs, and his sister Gutrune, both unwed, ask counsel of their half-brother, Hagen. Plotting to secure the ring, Hagen advises Gunther to marry Brünnhilde: by means of a magic potion Siegfried can be induced to forget his bride and win her for Gunther in return for Gutrune’s hand.
This twisted tale proceeds over six hours and 25 minutes, with love found and lost, crosses and double-crosses, magic potions, angry gods, blood oaths and brotherhood, revenge, dragon-slaying and murder.
With her beloved murdered, Brünnhilde orders a funeral pyre for Siegfried. She condemns the gods for their guilt in his death, throws a torch onto the pyre and joyfully rushes into the flames.
As the river overflows its banks and the Gibichung hall is consumed, the Rhinemaidens, dragging Hagen to his death, regain their gold, at last purified of its curse. Flames engulf Valhalla, leaving a human world redeemed by love.
Tickets are $24 for adults and $18 for youths and are available at the Salmar Grand Theatre.
