Biography[]
Family[]
Brother: Mime
Son: Hagen
Appearances[]
Das Rheingold[]
By his name, its clear Alberich ("Gnome ruler) is the ruler of Nibelheim, and from a later conversation between the Giants its clear he and his race had had quarrels with the Giants previously. In the opening of the Ring Cycle, Alberich is mocked by the Rhinemaidens for his futile attempts to catch them. He steals the Rhine gold from the Rhinemaidens, and curses love so he can craft from it a ring to rule a world. With the ring Alberich takes control of the Nibelungs and forces them to mine gold for him. He plans to eventually enslave the world with his army and force women to sate his lust. Alberich has his brother craft the Tarnhelm, and realising his brother had hoped to keep the tarnhelm and take the ring, he uses the Tarnhelm to turn invisible and assaults him. Alberich encounters the Gods Wotan and Loge, who have come to take his treasure. Loge asks him to demonstrate the tarnhelm and Alberich becomes a serpent. When Loge asks him to show if he can become small he becomes a toad but is captured by the Gods and forced to give up his powerful possessions. When he is freed he curses the ring.
Die Walküre[]
Although he does not appear in this opera, the Valkyrie are said to be gathering the dead soldiers in preparation for war against Alberich. It is mentioned that he recently seduced a Woman with wealth, and she is carrying his son. The Goddess Erda prophesies when his son is born the end of the Gods is nigh.
Siegfried[]
While Mime's brother has been raising Siegfried in the forest, Alberich has been hiding near Fafner's cave, waiting an opportunity to steal back the ring. Wotan confronts him and is recognised, but warns Alberich of Mime's plans, which leads to a fight between the two brothers. After Siegfried kills Fafner - and Mime - Alberich is seen lurking in the background.
Götterdämmerung[]
Alberich appears to his sleeping son Hagen, having borne him with Gunther's mother Grimhilde using wealth. He tells Hagen to take the ring from Siegfried. In spite of having cursed love, Alberich asks Hagen to love him and calls him "beloved hero". Hagen kills Siegfried but drowns when he tries to take the ring from the Rhinemaidens.
Alberich's fate is uncertain: the Norns ask each other of his fate but give no answer. While in the early sketches of the Ring Alberich is left on the scene at the end "brooding", in the final text he makes no appearance although Siegfried does mention to the Rhinedaughters having followed "a gnome" away from his hunting party. Depending on whether his appearance to the sleeping Hagen is a physical one or a nighmare of Hagen's, Alberich may or may not be alive at the end of the cycle, but at any rate, he earlier admits that his gold would be lost forever to him once returned to the Rhine, and as such would be left powerless.