In the depths of the Rhine, the three Rhinemaidens guard the Rhinegold, a treasure of immeasurable value. The Nibelung dwarf Alberich is dazzled by the sight of it. The girls explain that whoever wins the gold and forges it into a ring will gain power over the world, but must first renounce love. Frustrated by his unsuccessful attempts to catch one of the girls, Alberich curses love and steals the gold. Wotan, lord of the gods, is reproached by his wife Fricka: he has promised to give Freia, goddess of youth, to the giants Fasolt and Fafner in return for their building a fortress for the gods. When the giants demand their reward, Loge, the god of fire, suggests an alternative payment: the ring Alberich has forged from the Rhinegold, and his other treasures. The giants agree, and Wotan and Loge leave for the Nibelungs’ underground home.

Opera in one act, libretto by G. Forzano based on Dante's Divine Comedy. Third part of his opera Tri...
The writer Dario Fo applies his inventive genius to Rossini's comic opera in its premiere DVD releas...

1989 recording of the San Francisco Opera production of Mefistofele: Boito's retelling of Goethe's F...

Drama lyrique in five acts, after the play by Maruice Maeterlink

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Last production staged by Patrice Chéreau, this Elektra will remain as the main and most striking ly...

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The historic, original, live airing of what would become an annual Christmas tradition throughout th...

Teatro Alla Scala 1983 production of three one-act operas from Puccini.

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Ten short pieces directed by ten different directors, including Ken Russell, Jean-Luc Godard, Robert...

"Orango" - prologue to an unfinished opera by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), conducted by Esa-Pekk...

Mozart's La Clemenza Di Tito was originally commissioned to celebrate the coronation of the Emperor ...

Charles Mackerras teases the romantic beauty from Gounod's score, which has been widely admired sinc...

Turn of the century Paris provides the glittering setting for this light hearted tale of political a...

A delightful fairy tale, Mozart's final operatic legacy remains a great work in the spirit of the En...

Taped live at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Valery Gergiev conducts this landmark product...

The celebrated three-act opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart comes to life in this dynamic performance ...

Erich Wolfgang Korngold's "Die tote Stadt" in a Bayerische Staatsoper production from 2019, directed...