Opera - Richard Wagner

Recently, I've been to see one of Richard Wagner's (1813-83) opera called Die Walkure.  It was quite impressive with its very powerful music all the way through, from beginning to end.  And it's the first time I ever knew about German mythology or Norse mythology; all the names of their gods and goddesses are completely different from the Greek gods/goddesses and the Roman ones.  I always had thought that all European gods and goddesses were very similar, but to my surprise, these German ones were very different.  It seems to me that they even accepted incest, for in this opera, the brother and the sister were allowed to get married and to have children.

Anyway, Die Walkure is only one of the 4 epic operas called The Ring of The Nibelunge written by Wagner.  I didn't see the first one (Die Rheingold), but I'll go to see the 3rd one and the 4th one which will be performed in the next season/next year.

When I have a chance, I really should read about the Norse Saga and German Mythology.

"Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic operas  (1813–83). The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied. The four dramas, which the composer described as a trilogy with a Vorabend ("preliminary evening"), are often referred to as the Ring Cycle, Wagner's Ring, or simply the Ring."