Act One

The opera opens in a meadow beside the Scheldt River, near Antwerp. Heinrich (King Henry the Fowler) has arrived to call the Brabantines to help him defend Germany against the invading Hungarians. A Herald summons the Brabantines, but one noble, Friedrich von Telramund, accuses Elsa of murdering her brother, Gottfried, the heir to the dukedom of Brabant. He claims the succession for himself.

Elsa does not defend herself, but reports a vision of a knightly champion who will defend her. The king and the others are moved, but Telramund demands combat. The Heralds twice trumpet a call for someone to defend Elsa's claim, but nobody appears. Elsa kneels in prayer, and Lohengrin appears, in a boat drawn by a swan. He offers himself as Elsa's champion, but makes her promise that she will never ask his name or origin. They pledge themselves to each other. Lohengrin defeats Telramund, but spares his life. Telramund's wife, Ortrud, is a pagan witch, who has used sorcery to protect Telramund. She wonders about the stranger who can overcome her powers. Telramund, humiliated, falls at her feet.

Act Two

At the Fortress at Antwerp. Telramund reproaches Ortrud for his disgrace. She tells him that Lohengrin would lose his power if Elsa were to ask his name and origin. Ortrud calls to Elsa on the balcony and falsely appeals to her generosity. Ortrud calls upon her gods and ingratiates herself with Elsa, but also plants in her mind doubts and suspicions about Lohengrin.

The Herald announces that Telramund is banished, and that the stranger will wed Elsa today and assume the title of Protector, not Gottfried's title of Duke. Tomorrow he will lead them into battle. The wedding procession is interrupted first by Telramund, who accuses Lohengrin of sorcery. He demands that Lohengrin reveal his name and Lohengrin refuses. Only Elsa can command him, he says. Whe he looks at Elsa, however, he can see she is troubled. As they reach top step of cathedral, Elsa fearfully sees Ortrud making a threatening gesture.

Act Three

In Elsa's bridal chamber, Elsa pleads with Lohengrin to reveal himself to her. He refuses, first with reassurances of love, and then with warnings. Telramund bursts into the bridal chamber with his henchmen. Lohengrin slays Telramund, and orders the body brought before Heinrich. He declares that he will reveal all there.

Back on the bank of the Scheldt, Telramund's covered body is brought before Heinrich. Elsa and Lohengrin enter. Lohengrin announces he can no longer lead the army into battle. He killed Telramund in self-defense, and Elsa has broken her vow. He reveals himself as son of Parsifal and Knight of the Holy Grail. Now he must return to Monsalvat. The swan reappears with boat. Lohengrin tells Elsa if they had lived together a year without her questioning him, her brother would have been returned to her. He gives her his sword, ring and horn, to keep for Gottfried should he return. Ortrud reveals that she herself bewitched Gottfried, and that Gottfried is actually the swan drawing Lohengrin's boat. Now, she taunts, he can never be restored. Lohengrin kneels to pray, and a dove descends, hovering over the boat. The swan vanishes, and in his place appears Gottfried. Lohengrin proclaims him Duke of Brabant, and vanishes. Elsa falls lifeless to the ground.

© All Music Guide

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Act One

The opera opens in a meadow beside the Scheldt River, near Antwerp. Heinrich (King Henry the Fowler) has arrived to call the Brabantines to help him defend Germany against the invading Hungarians. A Herald summons the Brabantines, but one noble, Friedrich von Telramund, accuses Elsa of murdering her brother, Gottfried, the heir to the dukedom of Brabant. He claims the succession for himself.

Elsa does not defend herself, but reports a vision of a knightly champion who will defend her. The king and the others are moved, but Telramund demands combat. The Heralds twice trumpet a call for someone to defend Elsa's claim, but nobody appears. Elsa kneels in prayer, and Lohengrin appears, in a boat drawn by a swan. He offers himself as Elsa's champion, but makes her promise that she will never ask his name or origin. They pledge themselves to each other. Lohengrin defeats Telramund, but spares his life. Telramund's wife, Ortrud, is a pagan witch, who has used sorcery to protect Telramund. She wonders about the stranger who can overcome her powers. Telramund, humiliated, falls at her feet.

Act Two

At the Fortress at Antwerp. Telramund reproaches Ortrud for his disgrace. She tells him that Lohengrin would lose his power if Elsa were to ask his name and origin. Ortrud calls to Elsa on the balcony and falsely appeals to her generosity. Ortrud calls upon her gods and ingratiates herself with Elsa, but also plants in her mind doubts and suspicions about Lohengrin.

The Herald announces that Telramund is banished, and that the stranger will wed Elsa today and assume the title of Protector, not Gottfried's title of Duke. Tomorrow he will lead them into battle. The wedding procession is interrupted first by Telramund, who accuses Lohengrin of sorcery. He demands that Lohengrin reveal his name and Lohengrin refuses. Only Elsa can command him, he says. Whe he looks at Elsa, however, he can see she is troubled. As they reach top step of cathedral, Elsa fearfully sees Ortrud making a threatening gesture.

Act Three

In Elsa's bridal chamber, Elsa pleads with Lohengrin to reveal himself to her. He refuses, first with reassurances of love, and then with warnings. Telramund bursts into the bridal chamber with his henchmen. Lohengrin slays Telramund, and orders the body brought before Heinrich. He declares that he will reveal all there.

Back on the bank of the Scheldt, Telramund's covered body is brought before Heinrich. Elsa and Lohengrin enter. Lohengrin announces he can no longer lead the army into battle. He killed Telramund in self-defense, and Elsa has broken her vow. He reveals himself as son of Parsifal and Knight of the Holy Grail. Now he must return to Monsalvat. The swan reappears with boat. Lohengrin tells Elsa if they had lived together a year without her questioning him, her brother would have been returned to her. He gives her his sword, ring and horn, to keep for Gottfried should he return. Ortrud reveals that she herself bewitched Gottfried, and that Gottfried is actually the swan drawing Lohengrin's boat. Now, she taunts, he can never be restored. Lohengrin kneels to pray, and a dove descends, hovering over the boat. The swan vanishes, and in his place appears Gottfried. Lohengrin proclaims him Duke of Brabant, and vanishes. Elsa falls lifeless to the ground.

© All Music Guide

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