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Music: Rickard Wagner.Lyrics:Rickard Wagner
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First performance at Hovoperan in Weimar on 28 of August 1867.
| Role | Voicetype |
|---|---|
| King Heinrich | bass |
| Lohengrin | tenor |
| Elsa von Brabant | soprano |
| Friedrich von Telramund | baritone |
| Ortrud,his wife | mezzosoprano |
| Heerrufer | baritone |
| Noblemen | tenor and soprano |
| Gottfrid,Elsa´s brother | silent part |
Time and place: Antwerp, the first half of the tenth century.
On the banks of the river Scheldt, near Antwerp, king Heinrich has recently arrived in Brabant with a band of Saxon warriors to gather forces for a campaign against the Hungarians, who constantly oppose his plans to unite the small German kingdoms into one country. But Brabant itself is a land in disruption and when the king asks count Telramund for an explanation, he tells him that the son of the late Duke of Brabant mysteriously disappeared during a walk in the forest with his sister Elsa and that the country has therefore lost its heir to the throne. Strongly urged by his wifr Ortrud, he now accuses Elsa of fratricide with the explanation that she herself has a secret lover whom she wants on the throne. Telramund demands that she should be convicted and he himself appointed as the ruler of Brabant. Elsa is called forward - but on the king´srequest to justify herself she instead tells him about a wonderful dream she had in which she met a glorious knight. She will trust in him to defend her innocence. Elsa shows such purity that everyone believes in her; but Telramund is relentless and the king commands his herald tp proclaim a duek in which Telramund is to fight against the person who will defend Elsa.
She invokes the unknown knight for help and promises him her hand in marriage and the throne of the country, but he trumpets sound in vain, and no defender appears. Then, miraculously, a glorious knight in a boat drawn by a swan is seen. He has come to fight for Elsa on condition that she will never ask his name or origin. Solemnly she promises to keep his command and in the following duel the unknown knight conquers Telramund, but spares his life. Elsa is thus acquitted and all except Telramund and Ortrud express their joy.
It is late at night.Inside the castle Elsa and the unknown knight are feted. But in a remote corner of the castle yard Telramund broods over his humiliating defeat and blames his wifr Ortrud for his misfortune. She tells him that this stranger only won the duel by means of magic and together they swear revenge. If only they can get Elsa to ask him the forbidden question his power will be broken. Elsa is seen at an open window and Ortrud sends her husband off. Under the pretext of being repentant and miserable she succeeds in winning Elsa´s pity and thus reconciled they walk into the castle together.
Early next morning the heralds announce to the gathered Saxon and Brabantine warrior that Telramund is an outlaw and that the unknown knight has been appointed feudal overlord of the Brabantines. Elsa arrives with her retinue of ladies to go to the cathedral, but Ortrud stops her on the steps and taunts her. At least she knows that her husband is of the nobility, but of what origin is the stranger Elsa is about to marry? The king and the unknown knight arrive and Ortrud is told to stay away from Elsa. Telramund now stops them on the steps of the cathedral and in front of all the assembled people, he demands to be told who the stranger is. But the knight brushes him aside: he is only obliged to answer to Elsa. Although she does not ask, there is doubt on her face and just before entering the cathedral for the wedding she glances back at Telramund and Ortrud.
The king and the court escort Elsa and her groom to the bridal chamber. Alone together for the first time they declare their love. Still it troubles Elsa that she cannot call her beloved by name. To ease her mind he tells her that he comes from a land of glory and beauty. This makes Elsa worry that he will one day leave her, and despite the warnings he has given her, she finally can bear it no longer and asks him the forbidden question. At that moment Telramund breaks in with four fellow conspirators, but the unknown knight kills him and demands the four carry the body to the king. He himself will come to give Elsa her answer before the assembled company.
On the banks of the river Scheldt the king has gathered the Saxon and Brabantine warriors to march against the enemy under their new commander. To everybody´s horror, the unknown knight announces that he cannot lead them to war. He uncovers the body of Telramund and explains how he had to kill him in selfdefence. With great pain he now reveals his origins. He belongs to the group of knights who guard the Holy Grail, from which they receive supernatural powers to go out in the world and fight for the innocent and suffering - but only on condition of anonymity. His father Parsifal is king of the knights of the Holy Grail and his own name is Lohengrin. As his secret is now known he has to return to the grail castle of Montsalvat. He gives his sword to Elsa together with his horn and ring for her to give her brother, should he ever return. Triumphantly Ortrud bursts in and reveals the real cause of the disappearance of the brother Gottfried. She had transformed him into a swan - which now pulls Lohengrin´s boat. Lohengrin kneels in prayer and the swan is turned back into the young Gottfried, Duke of Brabant.Elsa´s jou turns to sorrow as Lohengrin departs, and she sinks lifeless att her brother¨s feet.
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