May 22 - Richard Wagner (The Musical Birthday Series)

Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) revolutionized opera in the last half of the nineteenth century.

The Limericks of the Nibelung

Das Rheingold

It starts with a ring in the Rhine,

Then Alberich says “Now it’s mine!”

It’s given to giants

For building compliance,

And the gods cross a bridge in a line.

Die Walküre

Siegmund! Sieglinde! (In myth

It’s OK to elope with your kith.)

Then watch Wotan build a

Big rock for Brunnhilde

And surround it with fire forthwith.

Siegfried

Siegfried, a boy of the woods,

Had all of the physical goods.

He had abs, he had pecs,

But in matters of sex

He didn’t know shouldn’ts from shoulds.

Götterdämmerung

The Norns drop their rope with a thud

(The plot by this point, clear as mud),

There are potions, disguises,

And oaths, and surprises,

Until it all ends in a flood.