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Act 1
Siegmund is the quarry in a man-hunt. He stumbles into a hut for shelter and encounters Sieglinde and her husband Hunding, one of his pursuers. Hospitality rules grant Siegmund one night of shelter. Siegmund falls in love with Hunding's wife, Sieglinde, little realising that she is his own sister (Wotan is their father). Sieglinde speaks to Siegmund of her unhappiness; he swears to free her from her marriage. She gives her husband a sleeping-draught. Sieglinde leads Sigmund to the tree round which the hut is built. Buried in it up to the hilt is a sword, left by a one-eyed stranger (Wotan) who attended her forced marriage to Hunding. No-one has been strong enough to withdraw it. Siegmund wrenches the sword from the tree. Sieglinde recognises their shared parentage and Act 1 ends as the transfigured couple embrace and make love.

Nina Stemme as Brünnhilde. Photo © ROH 2018 by Bill Cooper

Act 2
Wotan faces a dilemma: should he stand by the wronged husband Hunding, or by his own son Siegmund? Wotan decides to send his daughter Brünnhilde to defend Siegmund in the forthcoming fight with Hunding; but his wife Fricka – goddess of marriage – violently disagrees, thinking that incestuous love should not be condoned: Hunding's marriage should be defended. Announcing Siegmund's death and promising him eternal life among heroes in Valhalla, Brünnhilde is overcome with sympathy for Siegmund, and disobeying her father's orders, defends him. Wotan intervenes, causing Siegmund's sword to shatter, and he is slain; disgusted with himself, Wotan strikes Hunding dead.

Act 3
Brünnhilde's sister Valkyries gather on a mountain-top – their task is to convey dead heroes to Valhalla. Brünnhilde arrives with Sieglinde and tells her that she is pregnant with Siegmund's child, who will be a great hero. Wotan is outraged that his daughter Brunnhilde tried to protect Siegmund against his express wishes. He threatens to imprison his daughter for disobeying him, but she pleads with him. Wotan relents, and surrounds Brünnhilde with a wall of fire, so that only a hero may free her ...

© Graeme Kay/´óÏó´«Ã½