Richard Wagner. Lohengrin
The Berlin Staatskapelle under the direction of Matthias Pintscher presents the opera "Lohengrin" by Richard Wagner in a production by Calixto Bieito. According to the famous director, fairy tales are not only a tool with which children learn about the world, but also something that retains its symbolic potential even for adults. In order to visualize the supernatural events of "Lohengrin", Calixto Bieito creates two worlds on the stage: the forest, the center of magic and witchcraft, is opposed to the courtyard, where human dramas unfold.
The libretto for the opera was written by Richard Wagner in 1845. The composer completed the opera in 1848, but the premiere could not take place until 1850. The production of the opera was carried out by his friend, Franz Liszt. The author was unable to attend the premiere, as he was hiding outside the country, and he saw his masterpiece for the first time only 11 years later.
"This is perhaps the most successful, the most inspired work of the famous German composer," wrote Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky about the opera. "It depicts the kingdom of light, truth and beauty from which the knight Lohengrin descended to save the beautiful slandered Elsa."
The events of the opera "Lohengrin" narrate the time of the reign of Henry the Fowler. The plot centers on the story of Princess Elsa and her brother Gottfried, who disappeared mysteriously. In order to protect the girl from Friedrich Telramund, who called her the murderer of his brother and refused to marry her, a hero in armor appears. The mysterious knight stands up for the honor of the lady, wins the duel and soon marries her. But not everything is so simple, there is one condition - Elsa must not ask who he is and where he came from.
Ortrud manages to sow doubt in Elsa's soul that a good man is unlikely to hide his name and origin. Now Elsa cannot calm down until she finds out who she loves, whose wife she has become.
Lohengrin tries to reason with her and reminds her that she must not break the ban. But in vain. She already begins to frantically demand that her husband tell her who he is and where he is from. At this moment, Telramund and his accomplices burst into the bedroom to kill Lohengrin. But with one blow of his sword, the knight strikes the villain, and he falls dead. The rest, falling to their knees, beg for mercy.
The next day, Lohengrin tells the king that Elsa broke her oath and asked him who he is and where he is from. But he will answer this question here, in front of the king and everyone present.
He is the messenger of the Grail and is called to protect all innocent people on earth. From the Grail, he received supernatural power, which works only as long as people do not know his name and origin. If he reveals himself, he must leave them and return to his homeland.
Having disenchanted Gottfried, who has been transformed into a swan by the evil sorceress, he disappears. Elsa has no choice but to mourn her fate.
PERFORMERS:
Berlin State Capella
Conductor - Matthias Pintscher
Berlin State Opera Choir
Chorus Master - Martin Wright
Roberto Alagna - Lohengrin
René Pape - King Heinrich
Vida Mikneviciute - Elsa
Martin Gantner - Friedrich von Telramund
Ekaterina Gubanova - Ortrud
Adam Kutny - Royal Herald
Berlin State Opera, Berlin, 2021
