"Das Rheingold" is the first opera in Richard Wagner's four-opera cycle called Der Ring des Nibelungen. It premiered in 1869 and sets the stage for a mythological tale involving gods, giants, and a cursed gold. The story begins in the Rhine River, where Rhinemaidens guard the gold that grants power to its possessor. The opera introduces key characters, including Wotan, the chief god, and Alberich, a dwarf who steals the gold to forge a powerful ring. The themes of greed, power, and betrayal are central to the narrative, which unfolds in a series of dramatic scenes leading to conflict among the characters.