Рихард Вагнер: The Rhinegold & The Valkyrie. The Ring of the Niblung, part 1

GODS: WOTAN, DONNER, FROH, LOGE

NIBELUNGS: ALBERICH, MIME

GIANTS: FASOLT, FAFNER

GODDESSES: FRICKA, FREIA, ERDA

RHINE-MAIDENS: WOGLINDE, WELLGUNDE, FLOSSHILDE

I. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RHINE

II. OPEN SPACE ON A MOUNTAIN HEIGHT NEAR THE RHINE

III. THE SUBTERRANEAN CAVERNS OF NIBELHEIM

IV. OPEN SPACE AS IN SCENE II.

A greenish twilight, lighter above than below. The upper part is filled with undulating water, which streams respectively from right to left. Towards the bottom the waves resolve themselves into a mist which grows finer as it descends, so that a space, as high as a mans body from the ground, appears to be quite free from the water, which floats like a train of clouds over the gloomy stretch below. Steep rocky peaks jut up everywhere from the depths, and enclose the entire stage. The ground is a wild confusion of jagged rocks, no part of it being quite level, and on every side deeper fisures are indicated by a still denser gloom. Woglinde circles with graceful swimming movements round the central rock.

WOGLINDE

WELLGUNDE[ From above.

WOGLINDE

WELLGUNDE[ Dives down to the rock .

WOGLINDE[ Swimming off, eludes her .

[ They playfully tease and chase one another .

FLOSSHILDE[ From above .

WELLGUNDE

FLOSSHILDE[ Dives down between the two at play.

[ They swim asunder with merry cries. Flosshilde tries to catch first the one, then the other. They elude her, and then combine to chase her, darting like fish from rock to rock with jests and laughter. Meanwhile Alberich climbs out of a dark ravine on to a rock. He pauses, still surrounded by darkness, and watches the frolic of the Rhine-Maidens with increasing pleasure.

ALBERICH

[ The maidens, as soon as they hear Alberich's voice, stop playing.

WOGLINDE

WELLGUNDE

FLOSSHILDE

[ They dive down and see the Nibelung.

WOGLINDE AND WELLGUNDE

The frolic of the Rhine-Maidens.

FLOSSHILDE[ Swimming up quickly.

[ Both the others follow her, and all three gather quickly round the central rock.

ALBERICH

THE THREE RHINE-MAIDENS

ALBERICH

WELLGUNDE

WOGLINDE

ALBERICH

FLOSSHILDE

WELLGUNDE

WOGLINDE

[ She sinks down to the top of the rock, whose base Alberich has reached.

ALBERICH

WOGLINDE

ALBERICH

[ Climbs with gnome-like agility, though with repeated checks, to the summit of the rock. Irritably.

[ He has got near Woglinde.

WOGLINDE[ Laughing.

ALBERICH

[ He tries to embrace her.

WOGLINDE[ Escaping from him.

[ She swims up to another rock.

ALBERICH[ Scratching his head.

WOGLINDE[ Swims to a third rock lower down.

ALBERICH[ Clambers down quickly.

WOGLINDE[ Darts upwards to a higher rock at the side.

WELLGUNDE AND FLOSSHILDE[ Laughing

ALBERICH

[ He tries to climb after her in haste.

WELLGUNDE

[ Has sunk down to a lower rock on the other side.

ALBERICH[ Turning round.

WELLGUNDE

ALBERICH

[ Climbs hastily over the river-bottom towards Wellgunde.