Das Rheingold

Das Rheingold is a prologue of the Ring Cycle–introducing a mythological world ruled by the gods, with giants, magical creatures, the human and somewhere in-between. But beyond its fantasy setting, the opera explores deeply human themes. It is a story of who we are as a human–it’s about us, our family, our society, politics, the environment, and the world. It examines the monumental quest for power, the exploitation of nature, corruption, lust, betrayal, and the collapse of ethical order from which everything arises and everything returns.

I was interested in using the huge trap underneath and playing with angle and level of the already raked theater floor. The logic behind the hierarchy of society in this world helps indicate space. The space below belongs to the enslaved Nibelungs, the Rhein river is in-between both the underground world and the gods, then Valhalla is above everyone.

Alberich's appearance

The Nibelung dwarf Alberich appears from the clef of the Rhein. The section of the deck opens to see him crawling 

[Alberich takes the gold with music]

Another upstage section of the deck slowly opens to reveal the gold. Alberich is soaking in the power of what he sees, renounces love and seizes it. 

Valhalla Gate

The facade of sleek, shiny steel of the World Trade Center implies the capitalism theme. The facade is made of massive perfectly welded I-beams and is tipped toward the figures to create a sense of oppression. 

Nibelheim

As we dive down to the subterranean Nibelheim, the deck finally opens to its maximum angle, revealing the world below using the giant mirror that reflects the image and action. 

Nibelheim is a realm of servitude and oppression, ruled by Alberich, who now wields immense power and ruthlessly exploits capitalism by forcing the poor workers to mine the gold. 

The Nibelungs bring out the conveyor belts as part of the mechanism of the mine factory. The belts transfer the gold down to where the workers can weld it to objects like the tarnhelm and the ring.

Wotan and Loge later arrive to deceive Alberich of giving up the ring. 

They bring him back to the god's world.

Rainbow Bridge

After the debt is paid and one giant is killed, the section of the facade opens up to reveal what is inside Valhalla. We now see a red marble hall, inspired by the Third Reich Chancellor building, evoking a chilling sense of the “architecture of power”. It foreshadows their empty triumph as they march on the rainbow bridge toward their doom.