Lohengrin, Opera by R. Wagner
Rome's Teatro Costanzi has hosted many groundbreaking operas in its time and none more so than Richard Wagner's soaring Lohengrin in which the German composer was clearly developing his signature leitmotif style. This production highlights Wagner's evolving compositional method in what is often considered to be among the culminating works of his Romantic operas. First performed on 28 August 1850 at the Deutsches Nationaltheater in Weimar, Lohengrin is set in mediaeval times and features one of the composer's best-known melodies, the Bridal Chorus, which is still used to announce the arrival of brides-to-be at weddings all over the world to this day.
Wagner wrote both the libretto and the music for Lohengrin. The title character was already an established literary figure by the time the German maestro came up with his operatic version of the legend. Lohengrin appears towards the end of the mediaeval epic poem Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach. The story focuses on the people of Brabant – part of modern-day Belgium – in the 10th century. Having been acquired as a vassal state, Brabant is in disarray, with its people divided by political struggles and petty infighting.
In the opening act, we learn of a dispute concerning the Duke of Brabant's elder sister, Elsa. The Duke's guardian, Count Friedrich von Telramund, claims that Elsa has murdered her brother in order to become the new Duchess. King Henry the Fowler has arrived and is asked to adjudicate on the matter. He asks Elsa what her side of the story is but her response is the aria, Einsam in trüben Tagen, in which she simply expresses her sorrow for her brother. With little evidence to go on, the King decides that trial by combat is the appropriate way to proceed but no one steps forward to act as her champion in response to her accuser.
A herald calls twice for a champion to make himself known. At this point, Elsa kneels in thoughtful prayer, asking if her dreams of a saviour will become reality. Shortly afterwards, a boat appears, magically drawn by swans, and a mysterious knight in armour disembarks from it. This is Lohengrin, although Elsa does not know anything of his name or identity except for what she has gleaned from her dreams. Will Lohengrin defend her honour, and will there be a price to pay for both him and her if he does? As the story unfolds in the subsequent two acts, the audience discovers just how far Telramund and, later, his wife, Ortrud, are willing to go in order to further their conspiracy.
The Teatro dell’Opera di Roma offers a superb chance to witness Lohengrin, one of Wagner's best-known operas, which weaves elements of tragedy, Germanic paganism and Christian faith together in a spellbinding way.