Richard Wagner - Siegfried’s Rhine Journey (Götterdämmerung)
for Chamber Orchestra

​Richard Wagner (1813-1883) composed his opera Götterdämmerung between 1869 and 1874. It is the last of the four operas that make up Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen cycle, a project that had taken him over 25 years to complete. The opera is much renowned for its orchestral sequences, and these are often performed as concert extracts. Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey is taken from the Prologue of the opera, opening with a depiction of sunrise. Siegfried's noble horn theme is alternated with Brünnhilde's melody, and there is a brief love duet. Siegfried leaves for a new journey, taking with him the Ring of power. He follows the Rhine until reaching the Gibichungs Hall, where the mood darkens and the scene comes to a close. This is a reduction for chamber orchestra of Wagner's large score, preserving many of the different timbres and details of the original. This is a reduction for chamber orchestra (without singers) of Wagner's large score, preserving many of the different timbres and details of the original.

Available to hire or purchase from Aria Editions here

Instrumentation: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 2 horns, trumpet, trombone, harp, timpani, percussion, violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, double bass (at least 2.2.2.2.1)

Duration: c. 12 minutes

Listen to an extract of a performance of the arrangement here:

Siegfried's Rhine Journey (10'44)