Afternoon at the Opera

Das Rheingold

 
Royal Opera House performs Das Rheingold.

Royal Opera House performs Das Rheingold. roh.org.uk

From Royal Opera House website

The dwarf Alberich forsakes love so that he may steal the Rhine’s gold. A ring is crafted from that gold, invested with great power. When the ring is taken from Alberich, he places on it a terrible curse.

The god Wotan is tempted by ownership of the ring – but heeds a dire warning from the goddess Erda. Instead, Wotan uses the ring to pay the giants Fafner and Fasolt for building his palace Valhalla. Alberich’s curse takes immediate effect: Fafner kills Fasolt so that he may keep the ring for himself.