Wagner: Die Walküre - An Analysis

Vince Sheehan walks through this famous opera exploring how leitmotifs help illuminate the drama. Musical illustrations are played on both the piano and the violin. Numbers in brackets refer to bars/measures.
Die Walküre
Overarching theme of text: love vs law
Act I
Scene 1:
A - Prelude (storm); B - Siegmund meets Sieglinde (122); C - they become aware of their mutual attraction to one another (204)
Scene 2:
A - the arrival of Hunding (381); B - Siegmund tells his story (482); C - Hunding's wrath (674); D - Sieglinde drugs Hunding's drink (716)
Scene 3:
A - Siegmund cries out to Wotan in despair (790); B - Sieglinde tells her story (955); C - Siegmund and Sieglinde declare their love for each other (1099); D - Siegmund's re-identification as hero, as he pulls the sword from the tree (1378)
Act II
Scene 1:
A - Wotan and Brunnhilde look forward to defending Siegmund; B - Fricka scolds Wotan about his disregard of marriage in his dealings with the Walsungs (154); C - Fricka expresses her hurt over Wotan's infidelities (263); D - Wotan explains his hope for Siegmund, however Fricka reminds him that Siegmund has not acted freely at all (339); E - Fricka ups the pressure - (409); F - Fricka tells Wotan what must happen (478); G - Wotan reluctantly agrees to abandon Siegmund (541)
Scene 2:
A - Wotan expresses his despair to Brunnhilde (589); B - Wotan explains his predicament (monologue) (688); C - reluctantly Brunnhilde agrees to obey Wotan and kill Siegmund (989); D - Brunnhilde ponders her terrible task (1107)
Scene 3:
A - Siegmund wants Sieglinde to rest (1159); B - Sieglinde collapses in shame, guilt and despair (1258); C - Sieglinde breaks down and faints in terror after hearing Hunding's horns (1349)
Scene 4:
A - Brunnhilde announces Siegmund's death to him (1462); B - Siegmund is told that he will go to Valhalla; but Sieglinde won't be there (1517); C - Siegmund refuses the glory of Valhalla as he wants to stay with Sieglinde his love (1600); D - in a fit of passion, Siegmund threatens to kill Sieglinde with the sword Wotan has betrayed him with (1704); E - impressed by Siegmund's love for Sieglinde, Brunnhilde decides to disobey Wotan and defend Siegmund (1776)
Scene 5:
A - Siegmund speaks tenderly to the sleeping Sieglinde and readies himself for the fight (1853); B - Sieglinde awakes from a nightmare. After Wotan's intervention, Hunding kills Siegmund. Brunnhilde rescues Sieglinde, picks up the fragments of Nothung and flees (1918); C - Wotan kills Hunding and pursues Brunnhilde (2023)
Act III
Scene 1:
A - the Valkyries collect the slain heroes (Ride of the Valkyries); B - Brunnhilde explains why she is fleeing from Wotan and who Sieglinde is. She asks for a horse to flee again (267); C - Sieglinde is told that she is pregnant with the free hero and she escapes from Wotan with the fragments of Nothung (374); D - Wotan arrives; the Valkyries try to hide Brunnhilde (562)
Scene 2:
A - Wotan orders the Valkyries to reveal Brunnhilde (602); Wotan explains why he is so angry to the Valkyries (665); C - Brunnhilde learns that she will be cast out and left to the mercy of whatever man finds her (728); D - Wotan reiterates Brunnhilde's punishment and warns the other Valkyries that they could suffer the same fate if they're not careful (782)
Scene 3:
A - Brunnhilde tries to assuage Wotan's wrath by stressing that she was only doing what he really wanted to do, but couldn't (980); B - she explains why she acted the way she did (1111); C - Wotan explains how he was not able to do what he really wanted to do (1202); D - Wotan gives in to Brunnhilde's pleas and lessens the punishment somewhat (1286); E - Wotan tenderly bids farewell to his beloved daughter (1488); F - he waxes lyrical about her and kisses her eyes asleep (1580); G - Wotan summons Loge, so that Brunnhilde can be surrounded by the magic fire (1647)

[@theenergyflowtribejamesbro1302]

Beautiful analysis. That magic fire music and Farewell is indeed one of the most spectacular moments that transcends way beyond the music. Thank you for creating this series.