ACT 1
Wotan soon became restless in fortress Valhalla. He sought wisdom from the earth-mother Erda, and she bore him nine daughters, the warrior Valkyries. He also disguised himself as Wälse and fathered twins, Siegmund and Sieglinde. After he abandoned them, they became separated, and Sieglinde was taken as wife by Hunding, descendant of the giant race on earth.
Siegmund is on the run from his enemies. He staggers exhausted into Hunding’s house, where Sieglinde offers him refreshment and sympathy. When Hunding returns home, he questions the weaponless stranger and discovers that they have been fighting on opposite sides in a bloody conflict of clans. He will offer his opponent refuge for the night, but in the morning will kill him.
Siegmund is cornered, but the light of the fire reveals the hilt of a sword buried in the tree which grows in Hunding’s house. He calls on his absent father to save him (‘Ein Schwert verhiess mir der Vater’).
Sieglinde returns to tell him that she has drugged her husband, so that Siegmund may escape. She explains how a mysterious stranger plunged the sword into the tree at her wedding (‘Der Männer Sippe’). The door flies open to reveal the dawn. Siegmund believes that the spring brings fresh hope (‘Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond’). Sieglinde replies that he is the spring (‘Du bist der Lenz’). They explore their affinities and growing attraction, until they realise that they are brother and sister. Siegmund pulls the sword from the tree, and they run out into the forest to consummate their love.
ACT 2
Wotan joyfully greets his favourite daughter, the Valkyrie Brünnhilde. She warns him that his wife Fricka is on the warpath. She has uncovered his earthly wanderings and is outraged by the incestuous union of Siegmund and Sieglinde. Despite Wotan’s argument that his plan is designed to protect their future by creating an independent agent, Fricka insists that he should protect the sanctity of marriage by siding with Hunding in the ensuing fight.
Wotan is dejected by the thwarting of his scheme, and confides in Brünnhilde as if speaking to his inner self (‘Als junge Liebe’). He acknowledges that his power was won by trickery and that his elaborate strategy to protect it will fail. He foresees his power will be usurped by Alberich’s as yet unborn son and wills his own end. (Die Walküre is the only part of the Ring in which its protagonist Alberich does not appear, but his baleful presence is there in the music). Brünnhilde senses but cannot understand her father’s pessimism.
Sieglinde can run no further and begs Siegmund to leave her to continue his escape. But he will not abandon his now sleeping sister.
Brünnhilde appears to him, as if in a dream, to warn him of his impending death (‘Siegmund, sieh auf mich’). Her task is to lead him to an afterlife among the fallen heroes in Valhalla. Siegmund refuses the offer. He will stay with Sieglinde and fight to the death. Hunding’s horn calls him to battle. Sieglinde awakes from her nightmare to find herself alone. She witnesses Siegmund first being protected by Brünnhilde, and then disarmed by Wotan who breaks his hard-won sword into pieces. Hunding kills Siegmund.
ACT 3
Eight Valkyries ride through the skies carrying fallen warriors on their horses. When Brünnhilde joins them, they are astonished that she brings not a hero but a woman. Sieglinde wants only to die, but Brünnhilde tells her that she is pregnant, and that her son Siegfried will save the world. Sieglinde has a revelation (‘O hehrstes Wunder’ sung to a motif which only recurs at the end of Götterdämmerung, the final episode of the Ring); and escapes towards the dark forest to the east where Fafner guards his golden hoard.
Brünnhilde remains to face the storm and fury of Wotan. He condemns her disobedience for flouting his will, which obliges him to banish her from his service forever. She tries to justify her action as being conceived in his interest (‘War es so schmählich’), and he relents enough to soften her punishment. He will put her to sleep on the remote mountain-top, but she will be protected by a ring of fire which only a fearless hero will dare penetrate. He bids farewell to his beloved daughter (‘Leb’ wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind’) and summons the flames.
