Editing Siegfried (opera) (section)

=== Act 1 ===

Prelude to Act 1

''Scene 1''

[[File:Nibelung letimotiv.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Leitmotif for the Nibelungs]]A cave in rocks in the forest. An orchestral introduction includes references to [[leitmotif]]s including themes relating to the original hoard plundered by the [[Nibelung]] [[Alberich]], and one in B-flat minor associated with the Nibelungs themselves.<ref>Wagner (n.d.), 1–2</ref> As the curtain rises, Alberich's brother, the dwarf Mime, is forging a sword (''"Zwangvolle Plage!"''). Mime is plotting to obtain the ring of power originally created by his brother [[Alberich]]. He has raised the human boy Siegfried as a foster child, to kill Fafner, who obtained the ring and other treasures in the opera ''[[Das Rheingold]]'' and has since transformed himself from a giant to a dragon. Mime needs a sword for Siegfried to use, but the youth has contemptuously broken every sword Mime has made. Siegfried returns from his wanderings in the forest driving before him a large bear that terrifies Mime, and immediately breaks the new sword. After a whining speech by Mime about ingratitude, and how Mime has brought him up from a mewling infant (''"Als zullendes Kind"''), Siegfried senses why he keeps coming back to Mime although he despises him: he wants to know his parentage. Mime is forced to explain that he encountered Siegfried's mother, Sieglinde, when she was in labor; she died giving birth to Siegfried. He shows Siegfried the broken pieces of the sword [[Nothung]], which she had left in his custody. Siegfried orders him to reforge the sword; however, Mime is unable to accomplish this. Siegfried departs, leaving Mime in despair (''"Aus dem Wald fort in die Welt zieh’n"'').<ref>Wagner (n.d.), 4–32</ref>

''Scene 2''

An old man (Wotan in disguise) arrives at the door and introduces himself as the Wanderer (''"Heil dir, weiser Schmied!"''). In return for the hospitality due a guest, he wagers his head on answering any three questions Mime may ask. The dwarf asks the Wanderer to name the races that live beneath the ground, on the earth, and in the skies. These are the Nibelungs, the Giants, and the Gods, as the Wanderer answers correctly. When Mime still refuses hospitality, the Wanderer demands that Mime answer ''his'' three questions, or yield his own head. The Wanderer asks Mime to identify: the race most beloved of Wotan, but most harshly treated; the name of the sword that can destroy Fafner; and the person who can repair the sword. Mime can answer only the first two questions: the Wälsungs (Siegmund and Sieglinde whose tale is told in the opera ''[[Die Walküre]]'') and the sword Nothung. Wotan tells him that only "he who does not know fear" can reforge Nothung, and abstains from taking Mime's head, leaving it for that person.<ref>Wagner (n.d.), 34–51</ref>

''Scene 3''

Mime despairs as he imagines the ferocity of the dragon Fafner, while "the orchestra paints a dazzling picture of flickering lights and roaring flames"<ref name="Millingtonnd"/> (''"Verfluchtes Licht!"''). Siegfried returns and is annoyed by Mime's lack of progress. Mime realizes that Siegfried is "the one who does not know fear" and that unless he can instill fear in him, Siegfried will kill him as the Wanderer foretold. He tells Siegfried that fear is an essential craft; Siegfried is eager to learn it, and Mime promises to teach him by taking him to Fafner (''"Fühltest du nie im finst’ren Wald"''). Since Mime was unable to forge Nothung, Siegfried decides to do it himself (''"Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert!"''). He succeeds by shredding the metal, melting it, and casting it anew. In the meantime, Mime brews a poisoned drink to offer Siegfried after the youth has defeated the dragon. After he finishes forging the sword, Siegfried demonstrates its strength by chopping the anvil in half with it (''"Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede, mein Hammer, ein hartes Schwert!"'' - ''Siegfrieds Schmiedelied'' - ''Siegfried's Forging Song'').<ref>Wagner (n.d.), 51–86</ref>