>>5
Again, of course, one can only speak for oneself. But, for me personally, the entirely and exclusively "mortal" First Act of "Die Walkuere" is far and away the most involving and exalting Act in the whole "Ring". It contains passages of unexampled beauty, both musically and poetically. Siegmund's narration of his life story to Sieglinde and Hunding would be, even without the music, one of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching things ever written:
"Whatever seemed to me to be right
Others thought it wrong.
Whatever I despised
Enjoyed the grace and praise of the rest.
When I reached out for joy
Pain was all I caused.
Therefore I must call myself 'Ruler of Woe'
Nothing but woe and pain were ever my dominion."
Even today, the role of Siegmund is an incredible flying in the face of all that has traditionally been understood by "Heldentenor" (the "hero tenor"). More than any other leading figure in an opera - more even than figures created in much later and more sophisticated eras, like Berg's Wozzeck - Siegmund is NOT A HERO. One can believe that he has known REAL WRETCHEDNESS, REAL ABJECTION....that he has had to crawl and beg for human support, human nurture, human affection and has been refused them again and again.