Richard Wagner is the composer who is most often associated with the leitmotif. They are an integral part of the epic opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen. Characters, objects, natural phenomenon and emotions are among the many things Wagner wrote these recurring musical themes for. These short melodies help bind the four operas together creating a rich musical tapestry.

This section highlights some of the leitmotifs from Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), Siegfried and Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods) and are accompanied by illustrations by Ian Cauthery which were inspired by the work of Arthur Rackham.