Stig Andersen to Debut

Denmark's Stig Andersen makes his long awaited Seattle debut in a role he has sung in London, New York, Dresden, Berlin, Helsinki, Geneva, Lyon, Oslo, and Mannheim, among other cities. Two other debutants will appear Dennis Petersen and Swedish contralto Maria Streijffert as Mime and Erda respectively.

THE PLOT

Part 3 of the Ring cycle chronicles the heroic coming of age of the naïve yet fearless Siegfried, product of the Siegmund/Sieglinde union. Mime, brother to Alberich, has raised Siegfried ever since he lost his mother at birth, and plans to use the boy to liberate the Nibelung hoard, including the all-powerful ring. A mysterious Wanderer (Wotan in disguise) visits Mime and, after a game of riddles, hints that Siegfried is indeed destined for greatness but also will be Mime’s doom. Swords are re-forged, dragons slain, treasures reclaimed, justice dispensed, a forest bird sings, and the power of the gods continues to dwindle as the hero’s quest culminates in the discovery and rapturous rescue of Brünnhilde on her rocky ledge.

ACT I - Siegfried, the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde, has been raised by Mime, brother of Alberich, after his mother’s death in childbirth. Siegfried takes the pieces of his father’s sword, Nothung, from Mime to create a new sword for himself. Mime has tried to do this and failed, because no one who knows fear can weld together the pieces of Nothung. Siegfried, who is fearless, succeeds in forging a new sword.

ACT II - Taking his sword, Siegfried goes into the forest and kills the dragon, Fafner, the transformed giant who has Alberich’s cursed magic ring. Siegfried takes the ring, not knowing any of its properties. Instructed by a forest bird, which he understands from having tasted the dragon’s blood, Siegfried escapes Mime’s plots to steal the ring from him. The forest bird then leads Siegfried to Brünnhilde’s enchanted rock.

ACT III - Wotan, whom Siegfried does not know, blocks his way. In anger, Siegfried breaks Wotan’s spear and ends the god’s power. Siegfried passes through the fire and awakens the former goddess. Undaunted by Brünnhilde’s reluctance to yield, he pursues her until they both are radiant in their love for one another.  

Full Cast († - Seattle Opera Debut) 

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Photo: Janice Baird (Brünnhilde) and Stig Andersen (Siegfried).© Chris Bennion