Scene 1 The act begins on the shores of the Rhine in the Hall of the Gibichungs, a people named after the deceased king Gibich. Gunther, his son and heir, sits enthroned. Gunther's half-brother and chief minister Hagen advises him to find a wife for himself and a husband for Gutrune, the sister of them both, to enlarge the glory and might of their dynasty and secure it for the future. He suggests Brünnhilde, the noblest of women, as appropriate for Gunther, and Siegfried, the dragon-slayer, the greatest of heroes, as the best husband for Gutrune. Neither Gunther nor Gutrune knows how to win themselves such partners, but Hagen reminds Gutrune that he has given her a potion she can use to make Siegfried forget any woman he has ever seen and fall in love with her; enamoured of Gutrune, Siegfried will then also be surely willing to bring Brünnhilde, who sleeps on a mountaintop encircled by fire only the fearless can pass, to Gunther in order to gain from him the permission for marriage with Gutrune. Gunther and Gutrune, not knowing that Siegfried and Brünnhilde are actually in love with each other, agree enthusiastically with this plan.
scENe 1 thE aCT beGINS ON the ShoreS of thE RHIne In the hall of tHe gibicHunGs, a pEopLE NaMed After the deceAsed king GiBIch. gunther, HIs son And heir, sits enthrOnEd. gUNthER's hALF-brOTher AnD chief MiNISTeR HagEN advIseS him to fiNd A wife for himself and a huSBaNd fOr gutrune, the sIster Of ThEM Both, to enlarge the GlORy and might of theiR dYnASTy and sECure IT for tHe future. HE SuggESts brünnHilde, the nobLest Of womeN, aS appropriATE for gUnther, and siegfriED, the dRaGon-slaYER, tHe greaTest of hEROES, aS tHE beSt HuSbaNd for GuTrunE. neither gUNThER NOr gutRUNe Knows How to Win ThemsElVes SucH partners, But hagEn REMinds gUTrUnE thaT he hAs GiveN hEr a potiON she Can Use To make SIegfried FoRget aNy wOman He HaS eVer seen ANd fall in love with heR; enaMoured of guTrunE, SIeGfrIeD Will tHEn ALso Be surELy willing To brIng brÜnnhiLde, wHo sleEps on a mOuntaintoP EncIRcLED bY fire OnlY The fEArLESs can pass, To gunTHer iN ordEr TO gAIN frOm Him the perMISSIon foR mArrIage wITh gutruNE. gUnthEr And gutrune, noT KnowINg thAt SiegfRIed and brÜNnhilde ArE ActUally in lOve wIth EACh other, Agree enthusiAstIcalLY witH thiS PLaN.