(Wagner)

Act II.
Relayed from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London

Characters: [see below]

Siegmund and Sieglinde are partly descendants of an heroic mortal race, partly divine; Wotan himself, lord of the gods, gave them their existence. They are predestined to bring into the world the hero, Siegfried, who shall redeem the world from the curse of the Ring and of gold.
When this drama opens, Siegmund and Sieglinde have not seen one another since their first years. Both are now grown up. Sieglinde is married to a rough, brutish husband, Hunding. Into Hunding's hut comes Siegmund, not knowing where lie is, in sore straits and very weary after battle. He meets Sieglinde. They do not recognize each other, but begin to feel the affinity of their souls. Hunding enters, and finds that Siegmund is his enemy. He gives him the shelter for the night duo to a stranger guest, but challenges him to fight on the morrow. Hunding and Sieglinde withdraw; later, Sieglinde returns, and shows Siegmund the sword which an unknown guest (Wotan) thrust into the roof-tree of the hut. Siegmund draws out the sword, and the lovers flee.

Act II.
In a wild, rocky place wo find Wotan and his daughter Brunnhilde, chief of the band of Valkyrie. Wotan desires that Siegmund and Sieglinde shall bring forth heroes to defend Valhalla, that home of the gods. He therefore orders Brunnhilde to defend Siegmund in battle, but is compelled by his outraged wife Fricka to take back this order, and to decree that Siegmund shall die.
Brunnhilde, moved by compassion for Siegmund, and knowing Wotan's secret wishes, obeys Wotan's first order, not his second, and in Siegmund's duel with Hunding tries to aid the youth. But Wotan intervenes just as Siegmund is about to win, and enables Hunding to strike Siegmund dead.
Brunnhilde gathers the pieces of Siegmund's broken sword and bears off Sieglinde, seeking protection for her and for the hero whom she shall bear.