Die Walkure

Question 1

Genre and Premiere Date/Location, Premiere Date/Location of full cycle

Answer 1

Opera, 1870 in Munich, 1876 in Bayreuth for 1st Bayreuth Festival

Question 2

Language and Translation of Title and number of Acts and which Act and Scene to study

Answer 2

German, “The Valkyrie”, 3 Acts, Act 3 Scene 3

Question 3

Source of Text and Librettist, ___ opera in Der Ring des Nibelungen

Answer 3

Fusion of Norse Mythology and an Epic Medieval poem called the Nibelungenlied, Wagner himself, 2nd Opera

Question 4

Male Principal Characters, Voice and Identity (3)

Answer 4

Wotan, Baritone, Ruler of the Gods; Siegmund, Heldentenor, Mortal son of Wotan and Sieglinde’s twin brother; Hunding, Bass, Sieglinde’s husband and Siegmund’s enemy

Question 5

Female Principal Characters, Voice and Identity (4)

Answer 5

Fricka, Mezzo-soprano, Wife of Wotan and goddess of Marriage; Valkyries, Mezzo-sopranos/sopranos, Brunnhilde and her 8 sisters who are warrior daughters of Wotan and Erda; Sieglinde, Soprano, Mortal daughter of Wotan and Siegmund’s twin sister; Brunnhilde, Soprano, The valkyrie referenced in the title and favourite daughter of Wotan

Question 6

Plot summary of Die Walkure

Answer 6

Siegmund arrives exhausted at the forest dwelling of his arch enemy Hunding. He meets Sieglinde in a loveless marriage with Hunding and they fall in love unaware they are twins. Wotan charges his daughter Brunhilde to assist Siegmund in battle only to be rescinded after Fricka compels Wotan to punish the lovers for their incestuous deeds. Brunhilde defies orders but Siegmund dies anyway to Hunding and she and Sieglinde escape. Brunhilde foretells that Sieglinde with bear Sigfried as she runs into the forest to hide. Wotan finds Brunnhilde, but softens his punishment upon seing her compassion for the twins and her being the favourite daughter. She is red of divinity an put to sleep surrounded by magic fire upon a hero may cross to claim her as his bride. The hero will be Siegfried himself

Question 7

Wotan’s Farewell to Brunnhilde plot summary

Answer 7

Wotan prepares to part with his daughter Brunnhilde. After kissing her eyes, he summons the god of fire Loge with his spear to surround her deep sleep in flame to be rescued by the hero Siegfried

Question 8

Slumber motive: Woven symphonically ____ the scene , played by ____ in an ___-like manner, with a gentle ____ motive as if being put to sleep

Answer 8

Throughout, Low strings, Ostinato, Descending

Question 9

Magic Sleep motive: Played as Wotan ____ ___. Played by the ___ and ___ with ___ harmonies moving in ___ motion

Answer 9

Kisses Brunnhilde, Harp and Woodwinds, Chromatic, Contrary

Question 10

Spear motive: Played as Wotan uses his ___ to ___ (the ___). A ___, ___ figure played forcefully by the ___. Loge motive then plays; a ___ played by ___ to accompany the invocation

Answer 10

Spear, Summon Loge (the God of Fire), Bold, Descending, Trombone, Tremolo, Strings

Question 11

Magic Fire motive: Played as the ___ encircles the ___ ___, with ___, ___-notes in the ___ suggesting the ___

Answer 11

Magic fire, Sleeping Brunnhilde, Staccato 16th notes, Woodwinds, Flickering flames

Question 12

Siegfried motive: Wotan ____ the arrival of ___ without mentioning his name. It is a ___ and ___ theme played by the ___

Answer 12

Prophesies, Siegfried, Upward, Thrusting, Brass

Question 13

Closing: As Wotan leaves the sleeping and mortal Brunnhilde, the ___ and ___ lietmotifs gently ___ as the curtains fall

Answer 13

Magic fire, Slumber, Combine