Ride of the Valkyries
Prelude to the third act of Wagner's Die Walküre.
The Ride of the Valkyries is the popular name for the prelude to the first scene of the third and last act of Die Walküre, the second opera in Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen cycle. It is one of Wagner's best-known pieces, often heard in a purely instrumental version as short as three minutes.
- composer
- Richard Wagner
- opera
- Die Walküre
- cycle
- Der Ring des Nibelungen
- full orchestration completed
- end of March 1856
Lore & Background
In the opera, the 'Ride' takes around eight minutes and begins in the prelude to the third act, building up successive layers of accompaniment until the curtain rises to reveal a mountain peak where four of the eight Valkyrie sisters of Brünnhilde have gathered. As they are joined by the other four, the familiar tune is carried by the orchestra while the Valkyries greet each other and sing their battle-cry. Apart from the song of the Rhinemaidens in Das Rheingold, it is the only ensemble piece in the first three operas of Wagner's Ring cycle.
Reader's Guide
The Ride of the Valkyries holds a significant place both within Wagner's Ring cycle and in popular culture. Its enduring recognition stems from its dramatic orchestral power and its association with heroic or martial imagery.
Did You Know?
- The piece was printed and sold in Leipzig despite Wagner's initial prohibition of separate performances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ride of the Valkyries?
It is the orchestral prelude to Act III of Richard Wagner's opera Die Walküre, the second installment of his four-opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. The music paints the image of the Valkyrie warrior-maidens galloping across the sky on their horses.
What role does Ride of the Valkyries play in the opera?
It functions as the dramatic musical curtain-raiser for the third act, building kinetic energy before the singers take the stage. In concert settings it is often performed as a self-contained piece lasting roughly three minutes.
How does the Ride of the Valkyries scene end?
The prelude swells to a thunderous brass climax and then dissolves into the vocal music of Act III. Narratively, that act revolves around Wotan ordering Brünnhilde to be punished for shielding her sister Sieglinde against his will.
Why is Ride of the Valkyries so widely recognized?
Its driving, heroic brass melody has made it one of the most instantly identifiable passages in the entire classical repertoire. The excerpt has been reused in countless films, military parades, and popular-culture references, far beyond the concert hall.
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