Twilight of the Gods: Act One, Scene One - Gibichung Hall: Hagen, Gunther, and Gutrune
[T.1.1: A]
The final notes of Siegfried’s Rhine Journey transition into a new scene set at Gibichung Hall on the Rhine, where the King of the Gibichungs, Gunther, and his sister Gutrune, hold court, and their half brother Hagen (common mother Grimhilde, Gunther’s and Gutrune’s father Gibich, Hagen’s father Alberich) is an astute and respected advisor to the throne. Gunther’s sole concern is his honor and glory: we are reminded of Wotan’s original apostrophe to the new abode of the gods in the opening moments of R.2:
(The hall of the Gibichungs on the Rhine. The hall is entirely open at the back. The back of the stage itself is occupied by an open shore extending as far as the river; rocky outcrops border the shore. Gunther and Gutrune sit enthroned to one side, with a table bearing drinking vessels in front of them; Hagen is seated in front of the table. [[ #151 ]])
Gunther: Now hearken, Hagen! [[ #152 end frag: ]] Tell me, hero (:#152 end frag)! [[ #152>>: ]] Do I sit here in splendour by the Rhine, Gunther, worthy of Gibich’s fame (:#152)?
Hagen: [[ #151>>: ]]; #152 rhythm?:) You who are said to be freeborn I deem to be worthy of envy [“Neiden”]: (#?:) she who bore us brothers both (:#?), (#19:) the lady Grimhild, gave me to know the reason why (:#19).
Gunther: (#152 varis: [developing in an extraordinarily noble fashion]) I envy [“neide”] you: don’t envy [“neide”] me! If I fell heir to the first-born’s ways, (#152 end frag:) wisdom was yours alone (:#152 end): (#152 vari >>>:) half-brothers’ strife was never better settled; I merely praise your sound advice [[ #151: ]] when I ask you about my fame (:#152; :#151) [[ #161 end frag]]
Hagen: (#151 >>:; #?: [music reminiscent of #67, “Hunding’s Motif,” with perhaps #152 in the bass, as heard in the ‘Rhine Journey’?]; #19?:) Then I blame my advice (:#19?) since your fame is still poor (:#152 &/or #67?): (#24 vari, on clarinet [perhaps evoking #139 or anticipating #153?]) (#152 vari:) for worthy goods [“Gueter”; Hagen emphasizes “Guet”) I know of that the Gibichung’s not yet won (:#152 vari).
