Lohengrin (opera) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
by Richard Wagner
Wagner, ca. 1840
Genre	Opera in 3 acts
Native title	Lohengrin
Librettist	Richard Wagner
Language	German
Based on	German legend
Premiere	Weimar, Germany 28 August 1850

Lohengrin is a famous opera by Richard Wagner. He wrote both the story and the music for it. The opera is based on an old German legend about a mysterious knight.

What is the Story of Lohengrin?

The story of Lohengrin comes from an old German legend. It is part of a group of stories about a "Knight of the Swan." This knight often appears to help someone in need.

Wagner's opera is like a fairy tale. It quickly became very popular. A young king named Ludwig II of Bavaria loved the opera so much that he built a real fairy-tale castle. He called it "Neuschwanstein," which means "New Swan Stone." King Ludwig also gave Wagner a lot of money. This helped Wagner create his next big operas, like the famous Ring of the Nibelung cycle.

The opera was first performed in Weimar, Germany, on 28 August 1850. The famous composer Franz Liszt conducted it. Liszt chose that day because it was the birthday of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a famous German writer who lived in Weimar.

Richard Wagner himself did not hear the first performance. He had to leave Germany in 1849 because he was involved in a revolution. He went to live in Switzerland. Wagner finally saw his opera Lohengrin on 15 May 1861 in Vienna.

Main Characters in Lohengrin

This opera has many interesting characters:

The Story of Lohengrin

The story takes place in Antwerp, which is in modern-day Belgium. It happens around the 10th century, by the Scheldt river.

Act 1: A Mysterious Knight Arrives

A picture from the first London performance of Lohengrin.

The opera begins with beautiful music from the orchestra. This music, called a prelude, describes an angel coming down from the sky with the Holy Grail.

King Henry the Fowler has come to the land of Brabant. He is by the river Scheldt with his army. He explains that he needs the people of Brabant to help him fight against invaders. The King asks Friedrich von Telramund, a brave knight, why the people of Brabant are fighting among themselves.

Count Telramund explains that the Duke of Brabant recently died. Before he died, the Duke asked Telramund to look after his children, Elsa and Gottfried. One day, Elsa and Gottfried went into the forest. Only Elsa returned. Telramund says that Elsa murdered her brother. His wife, Ortrud, convinced him to accuse Elsa. Telramund then made himself the ruler of Brabant.

Elsa knows she is innocent. She asks God to be her judge and send a knight to fight for her. Telramund agrees to fight this unknown knight.

When the King's messenger calls for the knight a second time, a miracle happens! A boat appears, pulled by a swan. A knight in shining armour stands in the boat. He steps out, thanks the swan, and greets the King. He asks Elsa if he can be her champion. Elsa kneels and asks for his help. The knight agrees to help her, but he asks one thing: she must never ask his name or where he comes from. Elsa promises. Everyone, except Ortrud, prays. The fight begins, and the unknown knight wins. He spares Telramund's life. The knight then asks Elsa to marry him.

Act 2: Ortrud's Evil Plan

The next part of the story happens outside the cathedral at night. Telramund and Ortrud have been sent away. Ortrud is a witch and the daughter of a powerful duke. She tries to make Telramund feel brave again. She plans to trick Elsa into asking the unknown knight his name.

In the morning, Elsa comes onto her balcony. She sees Ortrud and feels sorry for her. Soon, an announcement is made: the King wants to make the unnamed knight the Duke of Brabant. But the knight says he doesn't want the title. He prefers to be known as "Guardian of Brabant."

As the King, the Knight, Elsa, and their helpers are about to enter the church, Ortrud appears. She is dressed beautifully. She shouts that the knight is a magician. Telramund also appears. He claims that the fight he had earlier doesn't count because the knight hasn't revealed his name. The knight still refuses to tell his name.

Act 3: The Secret Revealed

Joseph O'Mara as Lohengrin, 1894-1895

The scene changes to the newlywed couple's bedroom. Elsa and her husband enter to the famous "Bridal Chorus" music. They tell each other they are in love. However, Elsa remembers how Ortrud kept pushing her to ask the knight his name. Finally, she asks him who he is.

Suddenly, Telramund and four of his friends rush into the room to attack the knight. But the knight quickly kills Telramund instead. The knight is very sad. He tells Elsa that they will now go to the King, and he will tell everyone who he is.

The scene changes back to the riverbank, just like in Act 1. The army is ready for war. Telramund's dead body is brought in. The Knight explains why he killed Telramund. He then tells the story of the Holy Grail. He reveals that he is Lohengrin, a Knight of the Holy Grail and the son of King Parsifal. He says that he must now return to his home. He had only stayed to prove that Elsa was innocent.

Sadly, he says goodbye to his young wife. The swan comes again. Lohengrin prays that Elsa will get her lost brother back. The swan dives into the river and reappears as Gottfried, Elsa's brother! Ortrud's evil magic had turned him into a swan.

A dove comes down from heaven and takes the swan's place at the front of the boat. It takes Lohengrin back to the castle of the Holy Grail. Elsa is so heartbroken that she dies.

Images for kids

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  Lohengrin (tenore), costume design for Lohengrin act 1, 3 (1888).

• 

  Johanna Jachmann-Wagner as Ortrud, ca. 1860

See also

In Spanish: Lohengrin para niños