'Der Ring des Nibelungen' (The Ring of the Nibelung) is a cycle of four epic operas by German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883). The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied. 'Das Rheingold' is the first opera in the cycle and Wagner described this opera as a 'Vorabend' (preliminary evening) with 'Die Walküre', 'Siegfried' and 'Götterdämmerung' as the proper Ring. The scale and scope of the story is epic. It follows the struggles of gods, heroes, and se...