Richard Wagner | Ride of the Valkyries

The Ride of the Valkyries (German: Walkürenritt or Ritt der Walküren) is the popular name of the prelude to the first scene of the third and last act of Die Walküre, the second of the four epic music dramas that constitute the operatic cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen (English: The Ring of the Nibelung), composed by Richard Wagner.

As a separate piece, the "Ride" is often heard in a purely instrumental version, which may be as short as three minutes.

Peter Nicolai Arbo (Norwegian historical painter, 1831-1892) | The Valkyrie

Franz von Lenbach | Richard Wagner, 1882

Together with the "Bridal Chorus" from Lohengrin, the "Ride of the Valkyries" is one of Wagner's best-known pieces.

In the Walküre opera, the "Ride", which takes around eight minutes, 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 in preparation for the transportation of fallen heroes to Valhalla.

As they are joined by the other four, the familiar tune is carried by the orchestra, while, above it, 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.

William T. Maud (British painter, 1865-1903) | The Ride of the Valkyries

La Cavalcata delle Valchirie, in tedesco Walkürenritt, è un celebre brano presente nel terzo atto dell'opera La Valchiria del compositore tedesco Richard Wagner.

Il tema principale fu scritto il 23 luglio 1851.

Un abbozzo preliminare fu composto nel 1854 come parte di composizione di tutta l'opera, che fu orchestrata completamente dalla fine del primo quarto nel 1856.

La Cavalcata delle Valchirie è senza dubbio il brano musicale più conosciuto di Wagner e si distingue particolarmente per i suoi riferimenti nella cultura popolare, essendo usata come stereotipo dell'opera eroica e abbinata a tutto ciò che è attinente alla guerra.