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Richard Wagner

Siegfried

Duration
5 h, incl. 2 intervals (30 min)
When
24.3.2023 – 22.4.2023
Where
Main Stage
Genre
Opera
Price range
35-142 €
Language
German. Surtitles in finnish, swedish and english
Age recommendation
12+

A hero’s tale of mythical proportions

The third part of the epic saga

Siegfried, born from sibling love, feels no fear. He fights to win back the ring forged from the Rheingold, standing in the way of Wotan, the lord of the gods.

The mythical Siegfried is all-powerful: he forges an unbeatable sword, slays a dragon, understands birdsong, and wakes a sleeping beauty with a kiss.

Siegfried’s fairy-tale story is set in today’s restless mental landscape, where the value of humanity is measured in the size of steroid-pumped muscles.

“Traditionally, the Ring is a story about love, revenge, power and greed. Behind this epic narrative, however, there are even greater themes: questions and answers about mythology, faith and consciousness.”

anna kelo, director

the new finnish ring

Die Ring des Nibelungen or the Ring is an opera tetralogy by Richard Wagner and the most extensive work in operatic history. Set in a mythical world, the four part Ring cycle tells the story of love, hatred, power and greed. Now leading Finnish artists have re-interpreted the epic tale.

Read more about the Ring cycle.

synopsis

Mime tells his foster son Siegfried that he is not his real father. He shows Siegfried the shattered sword Notung, which is beyond repair. Once Siegfried has left, the Wanderer enters and tells Mime that Notung can only be forged anew by someone who fears nothing.

As Siegfried returns, Mime attempts to find out whether he could be fearless enough. Mime comes up with horrific scenarios, but Siegfried just laughs at them all. He smashes the fragments of the sword and manages to reforge Notung. Meanwhile, Mime prepares a poisonous drink meant for Siegfried. Both now head towards Fafner’s cave.

Alberich is standing guard near the cave, at loss at how he could get the treasure he so desires. When he sees the Wanderer, Alberich recognises Wotan. Wotan tells him that the hero capable of killing Fafner is about to arrive, but that Mime is after the treasure.

Wotan wakes up Fafner to warn him. Alberich repeats his demands to rule the world and stays to witness the arrival of Siegfried and Mime.

Siegfried is listening to the birds and tries to call back to them with a reed pipe and a silver hunting horn. The horn wakes up Fafner, and in the ensuing battle Siegfried strikes Notung into the monster’s heart. The dying Fafner warns Siegfried about the future. Fafner’s blood makes Siegfried understand the language of birds, who tell him to take the ring and the magic helmet and to watch out for Mime’s devious plans. Mime tries to get Siegfried to drink the poison, but Siegfried grabs his sword and Mime’s dead body soon lies next to Fafner’s. The forest birds tell Siegfried of a woman surrounded by fire on a rock, who is waiting for her saviour.

Wotan summons Erda to find out whether his plans will come to fruition. Erda bids Wotan to seek the advice of the Norns. Devastated to hear about her daughter’s punishment, she then resumes her eternal sleep.

As Wotan tries to bar Siegfried’s way to Brünnhilde’s rock, Siegfried uses Notung to break Wotan’s spear, which once shattered that very sword. The god steps aside and allows the young man to continue on his journey.

Siegfried pushes through the flames and finds a sleeping hero, who turns out to be a woman. He hopes to have found his long lost mother, but Brünnhilde tells him his mother is dead. At first she resists his advances, believing that her saviour should retain his innocence, but eventually she can’t control her emotions. Fuelled by the fervour of love, Siegfried and Brünnhilde demand the destruction of Valhalla and the gods. Enraptured, they hail ”light-bringing love and laughing death”.

creative team

Music
Richard Wagner
Conductor
Hannu Lintu
Director
Anna Kelo
Sets
Mikki Kunttu
Costumes
Erika Turunen
Lighting design, Video design
Mikki Kunttu

cast

Siegfried
Daniel Brenna
Der Wanderer
Tommi Hakala
Der Wanderer
Tomasz Konieczny
Alberich
Jukka Rasilainen
Fafner
Matti Turunen
Brünnhilde
Johanna Rusanen
The Woodbird
Krista Kujala

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