Orchestral Symbolism In Wagner's "Das Rheingold" uncovers a new layer of meaning concealed in the orchestration of Wagner's Ring. While leitmotives have helped stage directors, conductors, and audiences appreciate the work on a deeper level, they are no longer the final word. Richter presents considerable evidence that Wagner used orchestral scorings to represent another symbolic subtext, one that has been hidden for over a century. First published in 1980, Martin S. Richter's newly-revised edition includes evidence from prominent leitmotives, analyses of instrumental and vocal sections, symbolic references, and discusses the implications of orchestral symbolism to craft a more sensitive and nuanced production of Das Rheingold.