Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

This course will provide a structured forum where participants can explore the music, philosophy, and story of Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen". We will engage in group story mapping to create a summary of the four Wagner "Ring" operas. Class members will learn to identify and describe at least three "Ring" Leitmotivs, identifying principal characters, or objects, or emotions. Participants will engage individually, and in small teams, to reflect and summarize their thoughts and opinions regarding Wagner's music, his attempts to stage the "Ring" operas, and overall interpretations of the significance of these works.