Opera Guide and Synopsis: Lohengrin, by Richard Wagner

The opera Lohengrin, with both music and libretto by Richard Wagner, is based on the medieval German poem Wartburtkrieg. It was first performed in Weimar on August 28, 1850; Wagner was, at the time, living in Switzerland in exile, and the performance was conducted by his father-in-law, Franz Liszt.

Lohengrin was not well-received, primarily due to its four-hour length, and Wagner's refusal to cut anything helped very little. As the years went on, Wagner's operas only continued to get longer; Parsifal, a later opera based on the Grail legend, lasts over four hours without intermission, and even the comedy Die Meistersinger contains no fewer than five hours of music.

Characters in Lohengrin

• Henry I ("The Fowler"), King of Germany (Bass)
• Lohengrin, Knight of the Swan (Tenor)
• Elsa of Brabant (Soprano)
• Frederick of Telramund, Count of Brabant (Baritone)
• Ortrud, his wife (Soprano or mezzo-soprano)
• The King's Herald (Baritone or bass)

Synopsis of Lohengrin

The story takes place in tenth-century Antwerp.

Act I

King Henry comes to Brabant to help raise an army to fight the Hungarians. But there is local trouble: Gottfried, the rightful heir to the throne of Brabant, has disappeared. Frederick of Telramund, who intended to marry Elsa, ends up marrying Ortrud instead, who wishes to gain the throne of Brabant. At Ortrud's urging, Telramund accuses Elsa of having a lover whom she wishes to inherit the throne of Brabant, and of killing her brother to get him out of the way. In truth, Ortrud has turned Gottfried into a swan.

The King is about to cast judgment on Elsa, who cannot defend himself, when Lohengrin appears. He offers himself as Elsa's champion, with the caveat that she must marry him, and she cannot ask him his name or his origins. He defeats Telramund, but spares his life.

Act II

Elsa and Lohengrin are to be married, and Ortrud, feigning friendship, gets herself invited to the wedding. At dawn, the Herald announces that Lohengrin (the new ruler of Brabant) is to lead the attack against the Hungarians.

The bridal procession begins, but Ortrud interrupts the blessings, taunting Elsa for not knowing Lohengrin's name. Telmarund interrupts, demanding that the King require Lohengrin to reveal his name and origins. But Lohengrin refuses to answer the question for anyone but Elsa, who has already sworn never to ask, and the wedding goes ahead.

Act III

Scene 1

The bridal chorus congratulates Elsa and Lohengrin, and they head to the bridal chamber. But Elsa is nervous; she wants to know his name. He reassures her that he loves her and his name doesn't matter, but she insists. Before he can answer, Telramund rushes in; Lohengrin kills him and orders the body brought before King Henry.

Scene 2

Lohengrin explains to the King what has happened, and reveals his origins: he is Lohengrin, son of Percival, the King of the Grail Knights. But now that his secret is known, he must return to Mount Monsalvat where they guard the Holy Grail.

A swan appears-Elsa's brother, Gottfried. Lohengrin explains that if Elsa had kept her oath for a year, Ortrud's spell could have been broken and Gottfried returned to human form. But a miracle occurs: Gottfried transforms back into a man, and Ortrud confesses her sorcery.

Lohengrin gets into his boat and is pulled away by a dove. Elsa desperately calls after him before dying in her brother's arms.

Sources:

• Newman, Ernest. Stories of the Great Operas and Their Composers. Garden City: Garden City Publishing, 1930.
• Simon, Henry W. 100 Great Operas and Their Stories. Garden City: Dolphin, 1960.
• Wagner, Richard. Lohengrin (score).