LOHENGRIN

Composer: RICHAARD WAGNER Book by the composer First performance: Hoftheater, Weimar, Germany, August 28, 1850 3 acts. Count At Antwerp, Gottfried, the young Duke of Brabant, has disappeared. Telramund accuses Elsa, Gottfried’s sister, of murdering him. King Henry calls Elsa beneath the oak of justice. Elsa tells of a dream she has had of a knight who will come to protect her, and marry her. Elsa prays, and the boat drawn by a swan appears with the Knight in the prow. He declares himself Elsa’s champion on the condition that she never ask his name or origin. He bests Telramund in battle, but spares his life. Telramund and his heathen wife, Ortrud, plan vengeance. As Elsa is entering the church about to marry the Knight Ortrud tells Elsa she should know her husband’s name. After the ceremony in the bridal chamber Elsa, her curiosity aroused, asks her husband’s name. Telramund enters with drawn sword, and is killed by the Knight. Because of Elsa’s question her husband now leaves her, and, before King Henry, he tells his story and that his name is Lohengrin. He kneels to pray, and the swan leading his boat sinks, Gottfried appearing in his place. A dove pilots Lohengrin’s boat down the river out of sight as Elsa falls dead in her brother’s arms.