This week we will examine a section from the Der Ring des Nibelungen, WWV 86, which is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner. The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied.

So, how long does it take to perform the Ring cycle? The cycle is a work of extraordinary scale. Perhaps the most outstanding facet of the monumental work is its sheer length: a full performance of the cycle takes place over four nights at the opera, with a total playing time of about 15 hours, depending on the conductor's pacing.

We will be studying Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), WWV 86B, the second of the four music dramas that constitute Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, (English: The Ring of the Nibelung). The performance of this opera lasts about 4 hours 50 minutes, including two intervals.

We will be listening and studying the following pieces:

Chapter 45 - LG 37 Wagner: Die Walküre, Act III, scene 1: Ride of the Valkyries https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/wagnerwalkureopening/focus

Chapter 45 - Die Walküre, Act III, closing of scene 3: Wotan and Brünnhilde https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/wagnerwalkurefinale/focus

Chapter 46 - LG 38 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/tchaikovskysugarplum/focus

Chapter 46 - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Trepak https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/tchaikovskytrepak/focus

Chapter 47 - LG 39 Puccini: Madame Butterfly, “Un bel dì” https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/PucciniMadameButterfly/focus

hapter 48 - LG 40 Fauré: Libera me, from Requiem, Op. 48 https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/faurarequiem/focus https://ilg.wwnorton.com/enjmusic13/faurarequiem/interact