Siegfried: Cast of characters
All photos © Clive Barda/Opera North.
Siegfried
Son of Siegmund and Sieglinde, raised by the dwarf Mime after Sieglinde dies during his birth. As "he who does not know fear", he succeeds in reforging the sword Nothung where Mime has failed.
Wanderer
Wotan in another of his guises. At Brünnhilde's rock he meets his grandson Siegfried who, not recognising him, mocks him and breaks his spear with a blow from Nothung.
The Woodbird
An inhabitant of the great forest whose song, voiced by solo woodwind instruments, Siegfried hears as he and Mime lie in wait for Fafner. After Siegfried has killed the dragon, a drop of the creature’s blood gives him the ability to understand animals, and the Woodbird, now sung by a soprano, advises him and leads him to Brünnhilde.
Brünnhilde
A Valkyrie, favourite daughter of Wotan who rebels against his will, attempting to protect Siegmund and sheltering Sieglinde, who is carrying his child.
Alberich
Chief of the Nibelungen race of dwarfs, skilled smiths who live in the subterranean realm of Nibelheim. He gains the power to forge the ring after renouncing love. His brother, the smith Mime, creates the Tarnhelm under Alberich’s direction. Alberich fathers Hagen, the murderer of Siegfried, by Grimhilde, a human woman.
Mime
Brother of Alberich - weak-minded and cowardly but a master craftsman. Having found Siegfried in the woods, Mime fosters him with the intention of having him kill Fafner when he reaches adulthood, so that Mime can claim the Ring for himself.
Erda
Ancient earth goddess, older than Wotan, and the mother of the three Norns, 'the eternal woman possessed of all the world's wisdom' (Wagner), with knowledge of the past and foresight into the future. She appears at moments of uncertainty in order to resolve them, but she imparts her wisdom in riddles.
