Lohengrin (opera)



Lohengrin ('Loən,grin) is a romantic opera in three acts composed and writen by Richard Wagner was first performed in 1850. The story of the eponymous character taken from medieval German romance, notably the Parzival of Wolfram Von Eschenbach and its sequel, Lohengrin, written by a different author, itself inspired by the epic of Garin le Loherain. It is part of Knight of the Swan tradition.

The opera was proved inspirational towards other works of art. Among those deeply moved by the fair-tale opera was the young King Ludwig II of Bavaria. 'Der Märchenkönig' ('The Fairy-Tale King') as he was dubbed, later built his ideal fairy-tale castle and dubbed it 'New Swan Stone' or 'Neuschwanstein Castle', after the Swan Knight. It was King Ludwig's patronage that later gave Wagner the means and opportunity to compose, build a theatre for, and stage his epic cycle, the Ring of Nibelung.

The most popular and recognizable part of the opera is the Bridal Chorus, better known as "Here Comes the Bride", often played at processional at weddings in the West.

Performance History
The first production of Lohengrin was in Weimar, Germany on Auguest 28th, 1850 at the Staatskapelle Weimar under the direction of Franz Liszt, a close friend and early supporter of Wagner. Lizst chose this the day in honor of Weimar's most famous citizen, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born on Auguest 28th, 1749; it was an immediate success.

The opera's first performance abroad was in Rigi on February 5th, 1855. The Austrian premiere took place at the Burgtheater on Auguest 19th, 1859 with Róza Csillag as Ortrud. The work was produced in Munich for the first time at the National Theatre on June 16th, 1867 with Heinrich Vogl as title role and Mathilde Mallinger as Elsa. Mallinger sang Elsa again at the work's premiere at the Berlin State Opera's on April 6th, 1869. The Belgian premiere of the opera was given at La Monnaie on March 22nd, 1870 with Étienne Troy as Friedrich of Telramund and Feliciano Pons as Heinrich der Vogler.

The United States premiere of Lohengrin took place at the Stadt Theater at the Bowery in New York City on April 3rd, 1871. Conducted by Adolf Neuendorff, the cast included Theodor Habelmann as Lohengrin, Luise Garay-Lichtmay as Elsa, Marie Frederici as Ortrud, Adolf Franosch as Heinrich and Edward Vierling as Telramund. The first performance in Italy took place seven months later at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna on November 1st, 1871 in an Italian translation by operatic baritone Salvatore Marchesi. It was notable the first performance of any Wagner opera in Italy. Angelo Mariani conducted the performance, which starred Italo Campanini as Lohengrin, Bianca Blume as Elsa, Maria Löwe Destin as Ortrud, Pietro Silenzi as Telramund, and Giuseppe Galvani as Heinrich der Vogler. The performance on November 9th was attended by non other than Giuseppe Verdi, who annotated a copy of the vocal score with his impressions and opinions of Wagner (this as most certainly his first exposure to Wagner's music).

Lohengrin's Russian premiere took place at the Mariinsky Theatre on October 16th, 1868. La Scala produced the opera for the first time on March 30th, 1873, with Campanini as Lohengrin, Gabrielle Krauss as Elsa, Philippine von Edelsberg as Ortrud, Victor Maurel as Friedrich, and Gian Pietro Milesi as Heinrich.

Lohengrin's United Kingdom premiere took place at the Royal Opera House, Coventry Garden on May 8th, 1975 using the Italian translation by Marchesi. Auguste Vianesi conducted the performance, which featured Ernesto Nicolini as Lohengrin, Emma Albani as Elsa, Anna D'Angeri as Ortruda, Maurel as Friedrich, and Wladyslaw Seideman as Heinrich. The operas first performance in Australia took place at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Melborn on Auguest 18th, 1877. The Metropolitan Opera mounted the opera for the first time on November 7th, 1883 during the company's inaugural season. Campanini portrayed the title role of Lohengrin with Christina Nilsson as Elsa, Emmy Fursch-Madi as Ortrud, Giuseppe Kaschmann as Telramund, Franco Novara as Heinrich, and Auguste Vianesi conducting.

Lohengrin was first publicly performed in France at the Eden Theatre on Paris on April 30th, 1887 in a French translation by Charles Louis Etienne Nuitter. Conducted by Charles Lamoureux the performance starred Ernest van Dyck as the title hero, Fidès Devriès as Elsa, Marthe Duvivier as Ortrud, Emil Blauwaert as Telramund, and Félix-Adolphe Couturier as Heinrich. There was however an 1881 French performance given as a Benefit, in the Cercle de la Méditerranée Salon at Nice, organized by Sophie Cruvelli in which she took the role of Elsa. The opera received its Canadian premiere at the opera house in Vancouver on February 9th, 1891 with Emma Juch as Elsa. The Palais Garnier staged the work for the first time the following September 16th with van Dyck as Lohengrin, Rose Caron as Elsa, Caroline Fiérens-Peters as Ortrude, Maurice Renaud as Telramund, and Charles Douaillier as Heinrich.

The first Chicago performance took place at the Auditorium Building of Roosevelt University on November 9th, 1891. Performed in Italian, the opera starred Jean de Reszke as title hero, Emma Eames as Elsa, and Edouard de Reszke as Heinrich.

Instrumentation
The instrumentation is quite extensive for an orchestra in 1850. The work calls for:
 * 3 flutes (3rd doubling on piccolo), 3 oboes (3rd doubling on English horn), 3 clarinets in A, B-flat and C (3rd doubling on bass clarinet in A, B-flat), 3 bassoons.


 * 4 horns in E, D, Es, C and G, 3 trumpets in E, D, Es and C, 3 trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass), 1 tuba


 * Violins (1 and 2), Violas, Cellos, Double basses, Harp


 * 2 pairs of timpani, cymbals, triangle, tambourine

There are also parts for offstage and onstage instruments. They are as follows:


 * Onstage, in every act, depending on the scene, ther are 4 trumpets in C.


 * In Act II, first scene there is a piccolo, two flutes, three oboes, three clarinets in A, two bassoons, three horns in E and F, three trumpets in D, three trombones, timpani, and cymbals.


 * On the 3rd scene, there are four extra trumpets transposed in D.


 * On the 5th scene, there are six other trumpets, totaling 10 trumpets in C. An organ is also presented in the scene.


 * In Act III, during the Bridal Chorus (first scene), there are three flutes, three oboes, two clarinets in B-flat, three bassoons, four horns in B and E-flat, 2 trumpets (possibly B or E-flat), a triangle, and a harp.


 * At the end of the 2nd scene, there are four trombones.


 * At the beginning of the 3rd scene, there are eight more trumpets, totaling twelve from the four trumpets in C; there transportations come in pairs. One pair is transposed in E-flat, another in D, other in F, and the other two trumpets in E. One or two tenor drums are also present. After, all eight trumpets are transposed in F.

Synopsis

 * Place: Antwerp, on the Scheldt.
 * Time: 10th century

Act I
King Henry the Fowler has arrived in Barbant where he has assembled the German tribes in order to expel the Hungarians from his dominions. He also needs to settle a dispute involving the disappearance of the child, Duke Gottfried of Brabant. The Duke's guardian, Count Friedrich von Telramund, has accused the Duke's sister, Elsa, of murdering her brother. He calls upon the King to punish Elsa and to make him, Telramund, the new Duke of Brabant.

The King calls for Elsa to answer Telramund's accusation; she enters, surrounded by her attendants. Knowing herself to be innocent, she declares that she will submit to God's judgement through ordeal by combat. Telramund, as strong as a seasoned warrior, agrees enthusiasticly. When the king asks who shall be her companion, Elsa describes a knight she left behind in her dreams (Narrative: "Alone in Dark Days") and sinks to her knees, praying for God to send her relief.

Twice the Herald sounds the horn in summons, without response. Then Elsa herself, makes the call. A boat drawn by a swan appears on the river and in it stands the knight in shining armor. He steps off the boat, dismisses the swans, respectfully addresses the king, and asks Elsa if she will let him be her champion. Elsa falls to her knees in front of him and bestows her honor in his keeping. He asks but one thing from her in return for his services: she is never to ask his name or from where he is from. Elsa agrees to his terms. Telramund's people advise him not to go through with the battle, to withdraw, becuase he cannot prevail against magic, but he proudly refuses and the combat area is prepared. The company prays to the one "Herr und Gott" for victory for the one who cause it just. Telramind's wife, Ortrud, a pagan woman, does not join the prayer of the monotheists, but privately expresses confidence that Telramund will win. The combat commences. The unknown knight defeats Telramund but spares his life. Taking Elsa by the hand, he declares her innocent, and asks for her hand in marriage. Cheering and celebrating, the crowd exits, leaving Ortrud and Telramund to lament their defeat.

Act II
Night in the courtyard

A banished Telramund and Ortrud listen unhappily to the distant party-music. Ortrud, a pagan witch (daughter of Radbod Duke of Frisia), tries to revive Yelramund's courage assuring him that her people (and he) are destined to rule over the kingdom again. She plots to induce Elsa to violate the mysterious knight's only condition.

When Elsa appears on the balcony in the twilight before dawn she hears Ortrud lamenting and pities her. While Elsa descends to open the castle door, Ortrud prays to her pagan gods, Wodan and Freia, for malice, guile, and cunning, in order to deceive Elsa and restore pagan rule to the region. When Elsa appears, Ortrud warns her that since she knows nothing about her rescuer, he could leave her any time, as suddenly as he came.

The sun rises and the people assemble. The Herald announces that Telramund is now outlawed due to the false trial, and anyone who follows Telramund is an outlaw by the law of the land. In addition, he announces that the king has offered to make the unnamed knight the Duke of Brabant; however, the Knight has declined the title, and prefers to be known only as "Leader of Brabant". The Herald further announces that the Knight will lead the people to glorious new conquests, and will celebrate the marriage of him and Elsa. Behind the crowd, four knights quietly express misgivings to each other. Telramund appears, and, concealing himself from the crowd, draws these four knights aside and assures them that he will regain his position and stop the Knight, by accusing him of magic.

As Elsa and her attendants are about to enter the church, Ortrud appears, clad in magnificent attire, and challenges Elsa to tell who her husband is, and to explain why anyone should follow him. After that, King Henry enters with the Knight. Elsa tells both of them that Ortrud was interrupting the ceremony. The Knight tells Ortrud to fall back to the crowd, then takes Elsa's hand to the wedding. The King leads at the front of the couple. When they are about to go inside the church (once more), Telramund also enters. He pleads to the king that his defeat in combat was invalid because the Knight did not give his name; trial by combat is traditionally open only to established citizens, then accuses him of magic arts. The Knight refuses to reveal his identity and claims that only one person in the world has the right to know his origin – his beloved Elsa and no other person. Elsa, though visibly shaken and uncertain, assures him of her confidence. King Henry responds to Telramund's questioning of the Knight's name to the Knight, but the nobles of Brabant and Saxony praise and give respect to the Knight. Elsa, not seeing her beloved, falls back from the crowd. Then, Ortrud and Telramund take Elsa and then try to intimidate her, and after a short while, the Knight forces both to leave the ceremony. The Knight consoles Elsa. Finally, the King, the Knight, and Elsa, together with the men and women around, go forward. Elsa takes one last look at the banished Ortrud, then they enter the church.

Act III
Scene 1: The bridal chamber

Elsa and her new husband are ushered in with the well-known bridal chorus, and the couple express their love for each other. Ortrud's words, however, are impressed upon Elsa, and, despite his warning, she asks her husband the fatal question. Before the Knight can answer, Telramund and his four recruits rush into the room in order to attack him. The knight defeats and kills Telramund. Then, he sorrowfully turns to Elsa and asks her to follow him to the king, to whom he will now reveal the mystery.

Scene 2: On the banks of the Scheldt (as in Act 1)

The troops arrive equipped for war. Telramund's corpse is brought in, Elsa comes forward, then the Knight. He tells the story of the Holy Grail, on the Mobsalvat, and reveals himself as Lohengrin, Knight of the Holy Grail and son of King Parsifal. The time for his return has arrived and he has only tarried to prove Elsa innocent.

As he sadly bids farewell to his beloved bride, the swan reappears. Lohengrin prays that Elsa may recover her lost brother, and gives her his sword, horn and ring; which allows Elsa to remember him fully. Then, when Lohengrin tries to get in the boat, Ortrud appears. She tells Elsa that the swan who drove Lohengrin to the bank was actually Gottfried, Elsa's brother; and she put a curse on him by turning him into a swan. The people considered Ortrud guilty of witchcraft. Lohengrin prays to the swan, and the swan turns into another form, a young Gottfried. He elects him as the Duke of Brabant. Ortrud sinks as she sees him (Gottfried).

A dove descends from heaven, and, taking the place of the swan at the head of the boat, leads Lohengrin to the castle of the Holy Grail. Elsa is stricken with grief, however, and falls to the ground dead, longing for her beloved.

Notible Arias and Excerpts
The opera is full of 'hits' performed as concert set-pieces, namely:


 * Act I, Prelude.
 * Act I, 'Einsam in trüben Tage' (Elsa's Narrative)
 * Act I, Scene 'Wenn ich im Kampfe für dich siege'
 * Act II, 'Euch lüften, die mein Klagen' (Elsa)
 * Act II, Scene 4 opening, arranged as "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral"
 * Act III, Prelude
 * Act III, Bridal Chorus "Treulich geführt" arranged as "Here Comes the Bride"
 * Act III, 'Das süsse Lied verhallt' (Love duet)
 * Act III, 'Höchstes Vertrau'n' (Lohengrin's Declaration to Elsa)
 * Act III, Entry of King Henry
 * Act III, 'In fernem Land' (Lohengrin's Narration)
 * Act III, 'Mein lieber Schwan... O Elsa! Nur ein Jahr an deiner Seite' (Lohengrin's Farewell)

Interpretations
In their article "Elsa's reason: on beliefs and motives in Wagner's Lohengrin", Ilias Chrissochoidis and Steffen Huck propose what they describe as "a complex and psychologically more compelling account [of the opera]. Elsa asks the forbidden question because she needs to confirm Lohengrin's belief in her innocence, a belief that Ortrud successfully erodes in Act II. This interpretation reveals Elsa as a rational individual, upgrades the dramatic significance of the Act I combat scene, and, more broadly, signals a return to a hermeneutics of Wagnerian drama."

Source

 * Lohengrin (opera)