Die Walküre Act 1 by Wagner

The story revolves around a magic ring that grants the power to rule the world, forged by the dwarf Alberich from the gold he stole from mermaids in the River Rhine. Crushed by his loss, Alberich lays a curse on the ring: until it returns to him, it will inspire restless jealousy in those who won it and murderous envy in those who don’t, thus condemning all the possessors of the ring.