Siegfried is the third opera in German composer Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen. It’s a three-act opera with a libretto written by Wagner himself. When the Ring Cycle is performed in its entirety, this work is performed on the second full day after Das Rheingold — The Rhinegold in English — and Die Walküre — The Valkyrie in English.
The opera was first performed at Bayreuth’s Festspielhaus on August 16, 1876, as part of the Ring Cycle’s premiere, which took place on August 13–17. This was the first performance of the theatre, which had been built to Wagner’s specifications. Many crowned heads of Europe, as well as composers such as P’yotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky, Edvard Grieg, Franz Liszt, and Camille Saints-Saens, flocked to the town for the performance.
Act I begins with the dwarf Mime, who has raised Siegfried and pretended to be his father since his mother Sieglinde died in childbirth. Mime is attempting to forge a sword from the shattered pieces of Siegfried’s father’s sword. Siegfried could use the sword to kill the dragon Fafnir and reclaim the ring for Mime if this was possible.
The god Wotan enters, disguised as the Wanderer, and asks for hospitality. They play a game of riddles, and the Wanderer reveals that the sword will be forged by someone who has never experienced fear. Despite the fact that Mime loses the game, the Wanderer demands that he pay the sword forger his forfeit. After retrieving the ring, Siegfried forges the sword, which Mime intends to use to kill him.
Act II begins with Siegfried stabbing Fafner in the heart in the dragon’s cave. Fafner tells Siegfried about his past as he dies. When a drop of the dragon’s blood gets into his mouth, he gains the ability to understand birdsong and follows the Woodbird’s advice to take the Tarnhelm and the ring.
Mime and his brother Alberich appear at the cave’s mouth and argue about who owns the treasure as he goes into the cave to retrieve the two items. Siegfried is warned by the Woodbird about Mime, who offers him a drugged drink but unintentionally reveals his true intentions. As predicted by the Wanderer, Siegfried kills him. The Woodbird informs him that he has a bride waiting for him, and he sets out to find her.
Siegfried is led to a cave by the Woodbird in Act III, where the Wanderer awaits him. After hearing about his exploits, the Wanderer tries to obstruct his way, knowing that if he finds his bride, the gods will be destroyed. Siegfried’s sword shatters the shaft of the Wanderer’s spear, symbolizing Wotan’s authority being broken. The Wanderer fades away.
Siegfried reaches the sleeping Brünnhilde through flames and feels fear for the first time. He is unaware that she is a Valkyrie and Wotan’s favorite daughter, who will awaken as a mortal. He kisses her, and she wakes up, causing both of them emotional confusion. They do, however, eventually claim each other.