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'''''Der Ring des Nibelungen''''' <ref>Usually translated into English as ''The Ring of the Nibelung'' but more accurately as ''Nibelung's Ring''.</ref> is a massive cycle of four [[opera|music dramas]] by [[Richard Wagner]] to his own [[German language|German]] [[libretto]], completed in 1874 and first performed as a cycle at Bayreuth in August 1876.
The conception and composition of this ''Bühnenfestpiel'' ("stage festival play") spanned close to 30 years, and was based on German and Old Norse mythology as well as historical subjects. It requires four separate evenings, and at least 15 hours to perform.<ref>Millington, Barry. "Der Ring des Nibelungen," in ''New Grove Dictionary of Opera'', 1994.</ref> The following four music dramas make up the ''Ring'' cycle:
*''Das Rheingold'', Preliminary evening<ref>Indications come originally from Wagner. It is officially a triology with "Rheingold" representing the prequel.</ref>
*''Die Walküre'', First evening
*''Siegfried'', Second evening
*''Götterdämmerung'', Third evening
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Operas]]
[[Category:Musical Works]]