The Ring Cycle: Das Rheingold (1991)
PRELIMINARY EVENINING OF THE RING CYCLE. Upon the banks of the ageless river Rhine, the Rhinemaidens play. Alberich, a Nibelung dwarf, tries vainly to seduce one of them. To taunt him, they reveal their secret: out of the gold they guard one can forge a Ring to rule the world, but at the cost of giving up Love forever. Alberich steals the gold, makes the ring and plans his world take-over. Meanwhile, Wotan, King of the Gods, must figure out how to finance the construction of Valhalla. He has promised his sister-in-law as payment to the giant construction workers led by Fafner, but his wife Fricka disapproves. Loge (God of Fire) tricks Alberich and brings him to Wotan, who takes the Ring. In revenge Alberich curses it: lack of the Ring will fuel desire for it and possession will only lead to misery. Wotan gives the Ring to Fafner as ransom for Fricka's sister. Filmed at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus in June & July 1991.
Director: Harry Kupfer
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John Tomlinson as Wotan |
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Bodo Brinkmann as Donner |
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Kurt Schreibmayer as Froh |
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Graham Clark as Loge |
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Günter von Kannen as Alberich |
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Helmut Pampuch as Mime |
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Matthias Hölle as Fasolt |
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Philip Kang as Fafner |
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Linda Finnie as Fricka |
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Eva Johansson as Freia |
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Birgitta Svendén as Erda |
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Hilde Leidland as Woglinde |
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Annette Küttenbaum as Wellgunde |
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Jane Turner as Flosshilde |
| Directing | Harry Kupfer | Director |
| Writing | Richard Wagner | Writer |
| Sound | Daniel Barenboim | Conductor |
| Sound | Richard Wagner | Original Music Composer |
| Costume & Make-Up | Reinhard Heinrich | Costume Design |
