聆赏乐剧歌剧22年全记录之三——瓦格纳的“《指环》系列”(上)

Wagner's “Ring Cycle”(Part Ⅰ)

“《指环》系列”是指德国音乐家理查德·瓦格纳（Riehard Wagner）撰写脚本并作曲的四部“乐剧”（musicdramas），原名是Der Ringdes Nibehingen（The Rhlg of the Nibelung），中文译作《尼伯龙根的指环》，通称“《指环》系列”（the Ring Cycle），或仅称《指环》（theRing）。

Wagner's tetralogy the 'Ring Cycle,' which has been called 'the largest-scaled and greatest work of art,' had a long span of 26 years in its creation.Its scope is unusually grand,putting great demands on the singers,the orchestra,the stage director and his scenic,costume,and lighting designers.The performance time for the entire Cycle is 15 to 16 hours not counting the intervals in between acts.This article gives a general introduction to its themes and characters,plus a guide to appreciation for its choice scenes and memorable moments.