The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie
 The Ring of the Niblung, part 1

by Richard Wagner

"The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie" by Richard Wagner are the first two operas of a monumental four-part cycle composed between 1848 and 1874. These epic music dramas tell of gods, heroes, and mythical creatures struggling over a magic ring that grants world domination. Drawing from Norse sagas and Germanic legend, the story follows the schemes of Wotan, chief of the gods, as he attempts to regain the cursed ring stolen from the Rhine maidens—setting in motion conflicts that span generations and lead toward ultimate catastrophe.