Das Rheingold (Wagner)

"Das Rheingold," by Richard Wagner, is the first opera in his epic cycle "The Ring of the Nibelung." It tells the story of gods, giants, and mythical creatures involving a powerful gold treasure guarded by Rhine maidens. A cunning god named Loge and the giant Fasolt help bring the gold to Valhalla in exchange for future payment, setting off a chain of greed, betrayal, and conflict. The opera introduces themes of power, greed, and fate, with rich music and symbolism, serving as an energetic and complex opening to Wagner’s grand mythological saga.