Lohengrin

Wagner, Richard (1813–1883), translated by Dyer, Abigail (dyerabigail@gmail.com)

Lohengrin, composed by Richard Wagner, is a Romantic opera in three acts, first performed in 1850. The story draws from medieval German romance, particularly Wolfram von Eschenbach's “Parzival” and its sequel “Lohengrin” - comprising part of the legend of the Swan Knight.

The opera begins with the noblewoman Elsa of Brabant accused of murdering her brother, Gottfried. In her defence, an enigmatic knight (Lohengrin) arrives in a boat pulled by a swan, promising to marry her and defend her honour on the condition that she never asks his name or origin. Lohengrin wins the trial by combat against Elsa’s accuser, Friedrich of Telramund.

In the second act, Telramund and his wife Ortrud, a sorceress, plot to sow doubt in Elsa's mind about Lohengrin's mysterious identity. Ortrud manipulates Elsa, causing her to question Lohengrin's secret, with ultimately tragic consequences.

The final act reveals Lohengrin's divine origin as a Knight of the Holy Grail and the son of Parzival, who must depart when his identity is discovered. As Lohengrin prepares to leave, Ortrud confesses she had cursed Elsa’s brother to transform him into the swan. Lohengrin’s prayers revert Gottfried to his original form, the rightful Duke of Brabant. Elsa, however, overcome with grief, dies tragically as Lohengrin departs.

The opera is best known for its orchestral preludes and the Bridal Chorus, “Here Comes the Bride”. Lohengrin’s tale explores themes of faith, identity, and the struggle between the divine and the human, demonstrating Wagner's vision of opera as a total art form.

Author Details

Richard Wagner, born on May 22, 1813, in Leipzig, Germany, was a composer, conductor, and theatre director renowned for his operatic works. Wagner's father, Carl Friedrich, died of typhoid fever six months after Richard's birth, and his mother subsequently lived with, and probably remarried, the actor and playwright Ludwig Geyer, who kindled Wagner’s interest in theatre. Wagner displayed musical talent early in his life, going on to study at the University of Leipzig.

Richard Wagner's career was turbulent, characterized by both political involvement and persistent financial difficulties. His early operas, such as “Rienzi” and “The Flying Dutchman” were early steps in establishing his subsequent reputation. His involvement in the 1849 Dresden uprising, however, forced him into exile, during which he developed his revolutionary concept of opera as a "total work of art" (Gesamtkunstwerk).

Settling in Switzerland, Wagner wrote his famous essay “Opera and Drama” and began his epic cycle “The Ring of the Nibelung” - a series of four operas. His revolutionary use of leitmotifs and complex harmonic structures transformed opera. In contrast to his artistic success, Wagner’s personal life was more troubled - particularly his difficult marriage to Minna Planer and his controversial affair with Mathilde Wesendonck.

Wagner’s later years saw the realization of his longstanding ambition - the construction of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, an opera house specifically designed for his works. He premiered the complete “Ring Cycle” there in 1876. His final opera, "Parsifal" premiered at Bayreuth in 1882.

Wagner died on February 13, 1883, in Venice, Italy.

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Dyer, Abigail

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