WALKURE, DIE

(The Valkyr) Composer: RICHARD WAGNER Book by the composer First performance: Hof-und-National-Theater, Munich, June 26, 1870 3 acts. Woran, King of the Gods, begets Siegmund and Sieglinde in a union with a mortal woman. Separated at birth Sieglinde is unhappily married to Hunding, a savage fighter. She gives a stranger shelter in her house. Suspecting him to be Siegmund, her lost brother, she secretly tells him of a sword, Not hung, Woxan their father placed in a tree for Siegmund to use in his hour of need. The - stranger pulls the sword from the tree, proving himself her brother. They embrace in love and flee to the forest, Hunding pursuing. Wotan tells Briinnhilde, one of the nine Walkiire Maidens he created by a union with Erda the Earth Godde , to protect Siegmund against Hunding. Fricka, his wife and Godde of Marriage, makes Wotan reverse his order and protect Hunding, punishing Siegmund for uniting with Sieglinde in love. Briinnhilde disobeys and protects Siegmund. Fricka forces Wotan to interfere on Hunding’s behalf, and he breaks Siegmund’s sword, Not hung, with his spear. Hunding slays Siegmund, and for this Wotan kills him in return. _ Briinnhilde sends Sieglinde to the forest to bear the child of her lover. Wotan, angry at Briinnhilde’s disobedience, punishes her by putting her to sleep on a rock surrounded by fire which only a fearle hero can penetrate, and who only with a ki can awaken her.