What is Das Rheingold?
[[File:Ring2.jpg|thumb|right|The Rhinemaidens and Alberich]] '''Das Rheingold''' (''The Rhinegold'') is an [[opera]] by [[Richard Wagner]]. It is the first of the four operas that together tell a story called ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' (''The Ring of the Nibelung''). ''Das Rheingold'' is an opera in one [[act (theatre)|act]], divided into four scenes. It is a very long act, lasting 2 ½ hours, but it is normally played without an [[intermission|interval]] as the music is continuous, even between the scenes. The [[fictional character|characters]] in the opera are [[deity|Gods]], [[Giant]]s, Nibelungs and the Rhinedaughters. The Nibelungs are a [[race (biology)|race]] of [[Dwarf (mythology)|dwarfs]]. They are cunning and evil and live underneath the [[surface]] of the [[earth]]. == The story of the opera == === Scene 1 === The first scene takes place in the [[river]] [[Rhine]] where the three Rhinemaidens: Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde, are guarding the precious Rhine [[gold]]. Alberich, an evil Nibelung dwarf, arrives and tries to catch the Rhinemaidens. From what they say Alberich learns that the gold they are guarding gives the person who owns it the power to rule the world. Alberich wants the gold, but the Rhinemaidens say that anyone who wants to have it has to renounce (give up) [[love]]. They think that Alberich will not do that because he is very fond of girls, but Alberich does renounce love and so he gets the gold. === Scene 2 === The second scene takes place in Valhalla, which is where the [[god]]s live. Wotan, the chief god, is there with his wife Fricka. Two [[giant]]s have been building an enormous [[castle]] for the gods. Wotan has promised them that he would pay them for their work by giving them Freia, the Goddess of Youth and Beauty. Fricka is worried about the [[promise]] that Wotan has made, but Wotan tells his wife that he is not going to keep his promise. He thinks he can find a way of tricking the giants. Freia enters. She is frightened because the giants are coming for her. T