Die Walküre

Act I

Unseen enemies pursue Siegmund through the forest in a raging storm. He comes upon the home of Sieglinde and Hunding. Their house is built around the trunk of an ash tree. When Sieglinde discovers Siegmund, she tends to his needs and they begin to notice a strong attraction between each other. Siegmund introduces himself as Woeful since all he has known is sorrow. Hunding, Sieglinde’s husband, arrives and sees the unknown stranger attended by his wife.

Hunding declares that in exchange for hospitality and protection, Siegmund must explain his situation. Siegmund explains that he is the son of Wolf. When he was a child, his mother was killed and his twin sister abducted by cruel ruffians while he and his father were hunting. After years of living in the forest with his father, they became separated. Siegmund has not seen his father since. He explains that others have never accepted him, and therefore his name is Woeful.

Siegmund explains that his most recent conflict came about when he rescued a young maiden who was being forced into marriage by her family to a man she did not love. In the battle to protect the girl, he killed her brothers. Her tears turned to rage and she cried for vengeance. Siegmund still stood to protect her but was disarmed and wounded. The girl was killed and his enemies pursue Siegmund into the forest. Hunding reveals that he is kin to the family Siegmund slaughtered. He will honor his promise of hospitality for the night. In the morning he will fight Siegmund to avenge his murdered kin.

Siegmund recalls that his father promised him a sword at the time of his deepest distress. Sieglinde, after drugging Hunding, returns to tell Siegmund that robbers forced her into marriage to Hunding. The day of the marriage a mysterious old man arrived with a sword, which he plunged into the tree in Hunding’s house. Who ever could retrieve the sword would be her hero. So far, no one has been able to pull it from the trunk. Siegmund tells Sieglinde that he will take the sword from the tree, and take her as his wife.

Sieglinde and Siegmund open the door of the house to find that spring has arrived. They express the passion that has been growing between them. Sieglinde notices how familiar Siegmund looks, and how much they look alike. As they talk, Sieglinde recognizes Siegmund’s voice from her childhood. They come to realize that it was Siegmund’s father who drove the sword into the tree. As Siegmund draws the sword from the tree, Sieglinde names him Siegmund. He tells her that Siegmund is his true name that means they are brother and sister, now husband and wife.

Act II

Wotan has Brünnhilde prepare to meet Siegmund and assure his victory over Hunding. Fricka, Wotan’s wife, approaches in a fury. She is disgusted by adultery and incest in the union of Siegmund and Sieglinde, and demands their punishment. Fricka explains that Wotan has deceived himself. Wotan counters with the plea that the gods need a hero, free of divine protection, to get back the Ring. Because Wotan has given Siegmund a sword, and delivered him from adversity, Siegmund cannot be that hero because he has received divine help. Wotan must not protect Siegmund, and must take the magic from the sword. Wotan agrees, and forbids Brünnhilde from intervening in the battle.

Brunnhilde is shocked to find that Wotan will not protect Siegmund, his only son. Wotan confides in her the story of his predicament, the coming demise of the gods, the Rhinegold, and Alberich’s plot to destroy the gods and rule the world. He tells Brünnhilde to ensure Hunding’s victory over Siegmund. When Brünnhilde expresses her reluctance to abandon Siegmund, Wotan threatens her with his wrath.

Sieglinde, overwhelmed with fear, faints in Siegmund’s arms. Brünnhilde appears to Siegmund to tell him of his coming death, and that she is to bring him into Valhalla. Siegmund refuses to go with her unless Sieglinde accompanies him. Brünnhilde is touched that Siegmund’s devotion to Sieglinde is greater than his desire for eternal glory in Valhalla. She explains that Sieglinde is carrying Siegmund’s child. Siegmund, in despair, prepares to kill both his wife and child with the sword. Brünnhilde stops him, and promises to protect him in spite of Wotan’s order.

Hunding arrives to do battle with Siegmund. Wotan intervenes and drains the sword of its power. Hunding strikes Siegmund dead and shatters the magical sword. Brunnhilde whisks Sieglinde away on her horse. Hunding is saved from death by battle. Yet with a flick of Wotan’s wrist, he falls dead. Wotan grieves over his dead son and then chases after Brünnhilde to punish her.

Act III

The Valkyries are gathering on a mountaintop, preparing to take fallen heroes to Valhalla. Brünnhilde arrives with Sieglinde. She tells the Valkyries that she is running from Wotan. Her sisters, forever obedient to Wotan, refuse to help her. Sieglinde tells them not worry about her; death is all she wants now that Siegmund is gone. But when Brünnhilde explains that Sieglinde is pregnant with Siegmund’s child, she begs the Valkyries for protection. Brünnhilde gives her the pieces of Siegmund’s sword, tells her to run and hide in the forest to the East, where Fafner guards his hoard of gold. Wotan will not follow her there due to his treaty with Fafner for building the castle.

Wotan arrives and Brünnhilde, who has been hiding among the other Valkyries, comes forward. Because of her disobedience, Brünnhilde is to be cast out of Valhalla, stripped of her divinity, and to be put to sleep. Any man who happens along and awakens Brünnhilde will be her husband and master. She will be mortal, and grow old in disgrace. The Valkyries ask Wotan to spare her from this terrible and disgraceful punishment. He threatens them with the same fate if they show her sympathy, and chases them away.

Now alone with Wotan, Brünnhilde explains that she was only representing Wotan’s true feelings, the feelings that Fricka would not let him act upon. She explains that she felt pity for Siegmund’s sorrow and distress, the same pity Wotan would have felt if he was in the same position. Wotan realizes that Brünnhilde did only what he wished he could have done, and this calms his anger. Wotan agrees that only a hero will awaken her. He then kisses her on the eyes casting her into a deep sleep and calls upon Loge to encircle Brünnhilde and the rock with a magical fire. Wotan declares that whoever fears his spear will never pass through the fire.