GötterdämmerungNew production

At the end of the second day of Richard Wagner’s world-encompassing Bühnenfestspiel, Siegfried and Brünnhilde joyfully sang of their love. For a moment, it seemed as if a utopia ruled by love, free from power struggles, was possible. But right from dawn of the third and last day, the Norns announce: «Zu End’ ist ewiges Wissen» – «Eternal knowledge is at its end» – and a terrible ending approaches. Although he loves her, Siegfried will soon leave Brünnhilde, so that he may take off on new adventures. He will meet Hagen, son of the hate-filled Alberich, who will use Siegfried for his cynical plans for domination. Manipulating Siegfried is an easy task, for he knows nothing of the power of the ring that he gave Brünnhilde as a sign of his love. But Hagen knows of its power; driven by greed for power and domination, he spins his web of intrigue. But Siegfried isn’t Hagen’s only victim. Brünnhilde, too, must endure terrible betrayal, experiencing terrible humiliation and endless pain. Siegfried’s death ultimately leads to the end of the world – the curse of the ring has lost none of its power. When Brünnhilde realizes the full extent of the deception, she returns the ring to the Rhinemaidens, choosing death for herself. But alongside destruction and downfall, there is also a spark of hope: for the first time, the so-called redemption motif, first heard when Brünnhilde heralded the birth of Siegfried to Sieglinde in Die Walküre, is heard again at the end of Götterdämmerung. Richard Wagner began work on the text and composition of the Ring des Nibelungen in Zurich in 1849, under the influence of revolution. Some 26 years later – after interrupting work on Siegfried for 12 years – he completed his magnum opus and premiered it at the newly-founded Bayreuther Festspiele. Here at the Opernhaus, Intendant and stage director Andreas Homoki and General Music Director Gianandrea Noseda complete their Zurich Ring cycle with the premiere of Götterdämmerung. Camilla Nylund and Klaus Florian Vogt return in Götterdämmerung as Siegfried and Brünnhilde, as they both make important role debuts once again in Zurich.

On June 17, 2023 the official ticket sale for the season 23/24 starts. Friends, subscribers, and shareholders can take advantage of their advance purchase rights one week earlier.