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Learn how and why Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt were invented and crafted during Renaissance. Discover the Old Testament as a veiled rendition of events of Middle Ages written centuries after the New Testament. Perceive the Crusaders as contemporaries of The Crucifixion punishing the tormentors of the Messiah. What if Jesus Christ was born in 1053 and crucified in 1086 AD?
Sounds unbelievable? Not after you've read "History: Fiction or Science?" by Anatoly Fomenko, leading mathematician of our time. He follows in steps of Sir Isaac Newton, finds clear evidence of falsification of History by clergy and humanists. Armed with computers, astronomy and statistics he proves the history of humankind to be both dramatically different and drastically shorter than generally presumed.
On
the Valkyries' rock, three Norns spin the rope of Fate,
recalling Wotan's days of power and predicting the end of
the Gods. When the rope breaks they descend in terror to
their mother, Erda, goddess of the earth.
At
dawn Siegfried and his bride, Brünnhilde, emerge from
their cave ("Zu neuen Taten"). Though fearful
that she may lose the hero, she sends him forth to deeds
of valor.
As
a token of his love, Siegfried gives Brünnhilde the magic
Ring he took from Fafner, and she gives him her horse Grane
in exchange. Passionately they bid farewell as Siegfried sets
off into the world (Rhine Journey).
ZINOVIEV
Could Brünnhilde be your soul!
ZINOVIEV
Siegfried's Rhine journey
In
their castle on the Rhine, Gunther, Lord of the Gibichungs,
and his sister Gutrune, both unwed, ask counsel of their
half-brother, Hagen.
Plotting
to secure the Ring, Hagen advises Gunther to marry Brünnhilde:
by means of a magic potion Siegfried can be induced to forget
his bride and win her for Gunther in return for Gutrune's
hand. The hero's horn announces his approach.
Gunther
welcomes him, and Gutrune offers him the potion. Remembering
Brünnhilde, he drinks and forgets all, quickly succumbing
to Gutrune's beauty and agreeing to bring Brünnhilde
to Gunther. The
two men swear an oath of blood brotherhood ("Blühenden
Lebens"), and then depart. Hagen, left to keep watch,
broods on his plot's success ("Hier sitz ich zur Wacht").
ZINOVIEV
Blood-brotherhood
ZINOVIEV
More than the glory of the gods this ring is to me!
On
the Valkyries' rock, Brünnhilde greets her sister Waltraute,
who says Wotan has warned the gods their doom is sealed
unless Brünnhilde yields the Ring to the Rhinemaidens.
But Brünnhilde's new love for Siegfried is more important
to her than concern for the Gods. She refuses to give up
the Ring, and Waltraute rides off in despair.
Dusk
falls as Siegfried returns transformed by the Tarnhelm into
Gunther's form. He tears the Ring from the terrified Brünnhilde's
finger and claims her as Gunther's Bride.
At
night, before the Gibichung hall, Hagen dreams of his father,
the Nibelung Alberich, who forces him to swear he will regain
the Ring ("Schläfst du, Hagen?"). As dawn breaks,
Siegfried returns with cheerful greetings for Hagen and Gutrune:
he has won Brünnhilde for Gunther. Hagen summons the
vassals to welcome the king and his bride ("Hoiho, Hoiho!").
ZINOVIEV
Force alone will subdue you!
ZINOVIEV
Treachery!
When
Gunther leads in Brünnhilde, she is startled at seeing
Siegfried; observing the Ring on his finger, she decries
his treachery and proclaims Siegfried her true husband ("Heilige
Götter!").
Still
under the potion's spell, the hero vows upon Hagen's spear
that he has never wronged her ("Helle Wehr! Heilige
Waffe!"). Brünnhilde swears he lies, but Siegfried
dismisses her charge and leaves with Gutrune.
The
dazed Brünnhilde, bent on revenge ("Welches Unhold's List"),
reveals to Hagen the hero's one vulnerable spot: a spear in the
back will kill him. Taunted by Brünnhilde and lured by Hagen's
description of the Ring's power, Gunther joins the murder plot.
The
couples proceed to the wedding feast.On the bank of the Rhine
the three Rhinemaidens bewail their lost treasure ("Frau
Sonne sendet lichte Strahlen"). Soon Siegfried approaches,
separated from his hunting party.
ZINOVIEV
I bless your blade, that it may pierce him.
ZINOVIEV
Hagen
The
maidens plead for the Ring, but he ignores both their entreaties
and warnings. When the hunters arrive, Siegfried at Hagen's
urging describes his boyhood with Mime (his Nibelung foster
father), his slaying of the dragon Fafner and finally - after
Hagen gives him a potion to restore his memory - his wooing
of Brünnhilde ("Mime hiess ein mürrischer Zwerg").
Pretending indignation, Hagen plunges a spear into the hero's
back. Remembering Brünnhilde with his last breath, Siegfried
dies and is borne off (Funeral Music).
At
the Gibichung hall, Gutrune nervously awaits her bridegroom's
return. Hagen tells her Siegfried has been killed by a wild
boar, but when his body is carried in she accuses Gunther
of murder.
Hagen
admits the crime ("Ja denn! Ich hab'ihn erschlagen").
Quarreling over the Ring, Gunther is killed by Hagen, who
falls back in fear when the dead Siegfried raises his hand.
Brünnhilde, entering, orders a funeral pyre for Siegfried
("Starke Scheite").
ZINOVIEV Bad dreams disturbed my sleep.
She
condemns the gods for their guilt in his death, takes the Ring,
and promises it to the Rhinemaidens.
ZINOVIEV Redemption
Placing
it on her finger, she throws a torch onto the pyre and joyfully
rushes into the flames.
As
the river overflows its banks and the Gibichung hall is consumed,
the Rhinemaidens, dragging Hagen to his death, regain their
gold, at last purified of its curse.
Flames
engulf Valhalla, leaving a human world redeemed by love.
Sie versinkt von neuem in die Betrachtung des Antlitzes der
Leiche Siegfrieds. Ihre Mienen nehmen eine immer sanftere Verklärung an
Wie Sonne lauter strahlt mir sein Licht:
der Reinste war er, der mich verriet!
Die Gattin trügend, - treu dem Freunde, -
von der eignen Trauten - einzig ihm teuer -
schied er sich durch sein Schwert.
Echter als er schwur keiner Eide;
treuer als er hielt keiner Verträge;
lautrer als er liebte kein andrer:
und doch, alle Eide, alle Verträge,
die treueste Liebe trog keiner wie er! -
Wißt ihr, wie das ward?
nach oben blickend
O ihr, der Eide ewige Hüter!
Lenkt euren Blick auf mein blühendes Leid:
erschaut eure ewige Schuld!
Meine Klage hör', du hehrster Gott!
Durch seine tapferste Tat,
dir so tauglich erwünscht,
weihtest du den, der sie gewirkt,
dem Fluche, dem du verfielest:
mich mußte der Reinste verraten,
daß wissend würde ein Weib!
Weiß ich nun, was dir frommt? -
Alles, alles, alles weiß ich,
alles ward mir nun frei!
Auch deine Raben hör' ich rauschen;
mit bang ersehnter Botschaft
send' ich die beiden nun heim.
Ruhe, ruhe, du Gott! -
Sie winkt den Mannen, Siegfrieds Leiche auf den Scheiterhaufen zu tragen;
zugleich zieht sie von Siegfrieds Finger den Ring ab und betrachtet ihn sinnend
Mein Erbe nun nehm' ich zu eigen.
Verfluchter Reif! Furchtbarer Ring!
Dein Gold fass' ich und geb' es nun fort.
Der Wassertiefe weise Schwestern,
des Rheines schwimmende Töchter,
euch dank' ich redlichen Rat.
Was ihr begehrt, ich geb' es euch:
aus meiner Asche nehmt es zu eigen!
Das Feuer, das mich verbrennt,
rein'ge vom Fluche den Ring!
Ihr in der Flut löset ihn auf,
und lauter bewahrt das lichte Gold,
das euch zum Unheil geraubt.
Sie hat sich den Ring angesteckt und wendet sich jetzt zu
dem Scheiterhaufen, auf welchem Siegfrieds Leiche ausgestreckt
liegt. Sie entreißt einem Manne den mächtigen Feuerbrand, schwingt
diesen und deutet nach dem Hintergrunde
Fliegt heim, ihr Raben!
Raunt es eurem Herren,
was hier am Rhein ihr gehört!
An Brünnhildes Felsen fahrt vorbei! -
Der dort noch lodert,
weiset Loge nach Walhall!
Denn der Götter Ende dämmert nun auf.
So - werf' ich den Brand
in Walhalls prangende Burg.
Sie schleudert den Brand in den Holzstoß, der sich schnell hell entzündet. Zwei Raben sind vom Felsen am Ufer aufgeflogen und verschwinden nach den Hintergrunde zu.
Brünnhilde gewahrt ihr Roß, welches zwei junge Männer hereinführen.
Sie ist ihm entgegengesprungen, faßt es und entzäumt es schnell;
dann neigt sie sich traulich zu ihm
Grane, mein Roß!
Sei mir gegrüßt!
Weißt du auch, mein Freund,
wohin ich dich führe?
Im Feuer leuchtend, liegt dort dein Herr,
Siegfried, mein seliger Held.
Dem Freunde zu folgen, wieherst du freudig?
Lockt dich zu ihm die lachende Lohe?
Fühl' meine Brust auch, wie sie entbrennt;
helles Feuer das Herz mir erfaßt,
ihn zu umschlingen, umschlossen von ihm,
in mächtigster Minne vermählt ihm zu sein!
Heiajoho! Grane!
Grüß' deinen Herren!
Siegfried! Siegfried! Sieh!
Selig grüßt dich dein Weib!
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