Lohengrin is Richard Wagner's dark and intensely dramatic opera about power struggles and forbidden knowledge. Ortrud and Telramund, an evil couple, seek dominion over the Duchy of Brabant and stop at nothing to destroy Elsa, the rightful heir and sister of the mysteriously missing Gottfried. They accuse Elsa of murdering her brother, and her fate is to be decided through ordeal – a duel between Telramund and a mysterious knight who appears as her defender.
The Grail Knight Lohengrin hears Elsa's plea to heaven and comes to her aid. Their love, however, is bound by a crucial condition: Elsa must never ask him about his name or where he comes from. This is a production that critics around the world have celebrated for its freshness and originality. Director Yuval Sharon was described by Opernwelt as the creator of "one of the most interesting innovations in the musical landscape," and the production has been praised for its performances and musical excellence, notably Piotr Beczala's fascinating interpretation of the title role, Anja Harteros' impressive Bayreuth debut as Elsa, and Waltraud Meier's commanding portrayal of the wicked Ortrud.
Average duration: approx. 5 hours.
