Götterdämmerung

'Twilight of the Gods', the Third Day, brings Wagner's Ring cycle with an evening and three days, all full-length performances lasting for hours, to an end. Everything that has happened in the parts before is now brought to a close. Brunhilde and Siegfried burn to death together 'in a purifying fire'; they are redeemed in the highest union. A whole epoch is inevitably nearing its end: The world of men and the realm of the gods are hopelessly corrupt, only a new beginning after the total breakdown can lead to a whole new world.

Apart from the libretto, this edition contains introductory commentaries of Kurt Pahlen who also adds information on the compositional structure and context to the musical as well as external and internal dramatic action of the opera. A short synopsis and a brief outline of the genesis bring the work into relation with the composer's entire oeuvre and life, thus offering a comprehensive, richly illustrated introduction.