In the interlude between the prologue and the first act we first hear the brilliant Motive of Siegfried the Fearless and then the gracefully flowing Motives of the Rhine, and of the Rhinedaughters' Shout of Triumph with the Motives of the Rhinegold and Ring. _Hagen's_ malevolent plotting, of which we are soon to learn in the first act, is foreshadowed by the sombre harmonies which suddenly pervade the music.
Édouard de Reszke as Hagen in "Götterdämmerung"]
Jean de Reszke as Siegfried in "Götterdämmerung"]
Act I. On the river lies the hall of the Gibichungs, where house _Gunther_, his sister _Gutrune_, and _Hagen_, their half-brother. _Gutrune_ is a maiden of fair mien, _Gunther_ a man of average strength and courage, _Hagen_ a sinister plotter, large of stature and sombre of visage. Long he has planned to possess himself of the ring fashioned of Rhinegold. He is aware that it was guarded by the dragon, has been taken from the hoard by _Siegfried_, and by him given to _Brünnhilde_. And now observe the subtle craft with which he prepares to compass his plans.
A descendant, through his father, _Alberich_, the Nibelung, of a race which practised the black art, he plots to make _Siegfried_ forget _Brünnhilde_ through a love-potion to be administered to him by _Gutrune_. Then, when under the fiery influence of the potion and all forgetful of _Brünnhilde_, _Siegfried_ demands _Gutrune_ to wife, the price demanded will be that he win _Brünnhilde_ as bride for _Gunther_. Before _Siegfried_ comes in sight, before _Gunther_ and _Gutrune_ so much as even know that he is nearing the hall of the Gibichungs, _Hagen_ begins to lay the foundation for this seemingly impossible plot. For it is at this opportune moment _Gunther_ chances to address him:
"Hark, Hagen, and let your answer be true. Do I head the race of the Gibichungs with honour?"
"Aye," replies _Hagen_, "and yet, Gunther, you remain unwived while Gutrune still lacks a husband." Then he tells _Gunther_ of _Brünnhilde_--"a circle of flame surrounds the rock on which she dwells, but he who can brave that fire may win her for wife. If Siegfried does this in your stead, and brings her to you as bride, will she not be yours?" _Hagen_ craftily conceals from his half-brother and from _Gutrune_ the fact that _Siegfried_ already has won _Brünnhilde_ for himself; but having aroused in _Gunther_ the desire to possess her, he forthwith unfolds his plan and reminds _Gutrune_ of the magic love-potion which it is in her power to administer to _Siegfried_.