Austrian School, Early 19th Century

Scenes from Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen: "Das Rheingold" Alberich appears to the Rhine maidens guarding the gold Wotan leads the gods into Valhalla over Froh's rainbow bridge "Die Walküre" Siegmund comes across the home of Sieglinde and Hunding Hunding and Sieglinde offer hospitality to Siegmund Siegmund retrieves the sword from the tree and breaks the curse of Sieglinde's marriage Brünnhilde appears to Siegmund to tell him of his coming death, Sieglinde faints in his arms Brünnhilde gives Sieglinde pieces of Siegmund's sword and instructions to run and hide in the forest, the Valkyries gather on a mountaintop beyond "Siegfried" Siegfried smashes the sword given to him by Mime Siegfried slays the dragon Siegfried kills Mime and leaves him in a cave with Fafner Siegfried prepares to splinter the wanderer's spear, thus ending Wotan's powers Brünnhilde is awakened by Siegfried's kiss "Götterdmmerung" The Rhine maidens ask Siegfried to return the Ring Brünhilde bears the Ring as all of Valhalla is consumed by fire