Lauritz Melchior
Agreed, agreed, agreed.

The music is Siegfried's funeral march from Gotterdammerung (twilight of the gods). Speaking very generally, Siegfried symbolizes Germany and his death (stabbed in the back) is one of the very last in a long line of events resulting in the collapse of the old world order (twilight of the gods - i.e. ragnorok) and the emergence of humanity (at least in my interpretation). I see this emergence as embodying a kind of tabula rasa purity. We have a chance to do things right, this time.

After 16 hours of glorious, glorious music.

chumbucket
that scene of the opera always puts a tear to my eye. I must be a nazi

Lauritz Melchior
A special "Sieg Heil!" to you, my fellow Wagnerite!

What always gets me is the reconciliation scene in Die Walkure.