Wagner: Das Rheingold (1980): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1980, Wagner: Das Rheingold is a music film directed by Brian Large, running about 143 minutes.

What it’s about. This is a beautifully conducted and thoughtfully staged performance of the first opera (the prologue) in Wagner's Ring Cycle. As soon as the clouds of mist have dissipated, while the daring, long-held opening chord is still reverberating, the screen clears to show not only the River Rhine and the three maidens (dressed like prostitutes in this production) assigned to guard the gold hidden there. It also shows an enormous dam (not mentioned in Wagner's text). This is the underwater base of a hydroelectric plant, and its presence tells us two things immediately: that this production takes the story out of the vaguely medieval fantasy world in which Wagner had placed it, and that a basic theme of the four-opera cycle would be power. Alberich, the Nibelung, is willing to renounce the love of women, after stealing the gold from the Rhine, to become the ruler of the world. Another basic theme is greed.

Who’s in it. Wagner: Das Rheingold stars Pierre Boulez as Conductor, Donald McIntyre as Wotan, Martin Egel as Donner and Siegfried Jerusalem as Froh, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.1/10, Wagner: Das Rheingold has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Carnegie Hall+ Apple TV Channel and Carnegie Hall+ Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Wagner: Das Rheingold page.

If you liked it. Fans of Wagner: Das Rheingold tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.