Wagner-Dampf: Steam in Der Ring des Nibelungen and Operatic Production.

WAGNER, Richard, 1813-1883. Ring des Nibelungen; WAGNER, Richard, 1813-1883

The author discusses the use of steam and vapor in 19th-century productions of the "Der Ring des Nibelungen," or "Ring Cycle," operas by Richard Wagner, including "Das Rheingold," "Die Walküre," "Siegfried," and "Götterdämmerung." The author describes Wagner's use of steam and fog metaphors and discussed how material practices in operatic production influence the definition of opera. The author also suggests that the transient quality of steam acts as a metaphor for performance. Specific topics include the use of steam to hide scene changes and theatrical mechanics in the "Ring Cycle" operas, the theme of nature in the operas, and steam technology used for 19th-century productions of the operas, including those in Bayreuth, Germany.