LOHENGRIN " Lohengrin," a grand opera in three acts, with words and music by Richard Wagner, was first presented in Weimar, Aug. 28, 1850, under the direction of Liszt. It was produced so frequently during the next decade, a period spent by Wagner in exile, that he once remarked, " I shall soon be the only German who has not heard Lohengrin." Its story is the blending of three legends, but the basic one is that of King Arthur and the Holy Grail.
Lohengrin.
Frederick of Telramund.
King Henry. Elsa of Brabant.
Ortrud.
Saxons and Thuringian nobles, retainers, trumpeters, maidens.
The scene of the opera is laid in Antwerp in the Tenth Century. Henry I. of Germany, surnamed the Fowler, has come thither to raise an army to send against the Huns, who are on the eve of an invasion. He finds Brabant stirred to its depths by the dreadful news that Elsa, daughter of the late Duke, while strolling in the wood with her younger brother, Godfrey, has murdered him to gain the sovereignty for herself. Telramund, guardian of Elsa and Godfrey, has previously been rejected by the maiden and is now the husband of Ortrud, daughter of the Prince of Friesland. Upon this marriage, Telramund bases his claim to the dukedom.
The curtain rises upon a meadow scene upon the banks of the River Scheldt, where King Henry is seated under the Oak of Justice, surrounded by his army and his nobles. Telramund retells the story to the king and voices his belief that Elsa has committed the unnatural deed to bestow the dukedom upon an unworthy lover. Thereupon, the king orders that she shall be brought before him at once, to con firm by trial her guilt or innocence.
When she comes, the sweetness and guilessness of her aspect win her instant favor, yet when the king questions her she can only exclaim, " My poor brother! " Finally breaking her silence as. if bidden by some unseen power, she sings in terms of wondrous beauty of a splendid knight who will be sent from heaven to be her champion. The people are so impressed by her words and demeanor that they refuse to believe her guilty and the chagrined Telramund declares it is his right to settle the matter by personal encounter if any champion will appear for Elsa. Accord
ingly, the trumpets are blown and the herald cries, " Who will do battle here on life or death for Elsa of Brabant let him appear!" Twice does the herald make the cry and there is no response. In her suspense, Elsa drops to her knees in prayer but as the trumpets sound for a third time, the people see approaching a gleaming boat drawn by a white swan and in it standing a beautiful knight, clad in silver armor. As the stranger bids his swan farewell, Elsa recognizes in him, Lohengrin, the knight of her dreams. He offers to appear for her on condition that, if he is suc cessful, she will grant him her hand but that she never will question him as to his name or origin nor seek in any way to discover them. To both of these conditions she gladly agrees.
The struggle is of short duration, for the strength and dexterity of Lohengrin seem more than natural and Telramund is felled at one blow, amid the rejoicing of the people whose hearts are not with him. The Swan Knight spares his life, however, and the Saxon youths lift Elsa and her victor on their shields.
Night has fallen when the curtain rises again. We see Telramund and Ortrud, shorn of their honors, sitting upon the Minster steps and plotting revenge. Telramund is inclined to give up, but Ortrud, like another Lady Mac beth, declares herself unconquered. She tells him that the contest was won with magic arts and that if Elsa may be induced to disobey Lohengrin's injunctions concerning the questioning as to his name and origin, both the strange Knight and Elsa will be at their mercy. While they engage in this discussion, Elsa appears on her balcony, transfigured with happiness, and sings of her love to the evening breezes. Ortrud accosts her with pretended humility and the gentle Elsa, too willing to forgive, hastens down and promises to intercede with the King in her behalf. The real object of the interview has been accomplished, for Ortrud casually but dextrously has succeeded in planting in the girl's mind the seeds of doubt in regard to her bride groom.