Important Info

Type: Opera

City: Moscow, Russia

Starts at: 18:00

Acts: 3

Intervals: 2

Duration: 4h 50min

Sung in: German

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Cast

Performers

Choir: Bolshoi Theatre Chorus

Orchestra: Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra

Creators

Composer: Richard Wagner

Director: François Girard

Librettist: Richard Wagner

Overview

Almost a century later, Lohengrin returned to the Historical Stage. The latest - current - production is a majestic spectacle in which, in the spirit of modern fantasy, the confrontation between the world of paganism and the world of Christianity is presented.

The creators of the play, opera and film director François Girard and conductor Evan Rogister, are "Wagnerians" immersed in the music of the great composer for many years. With their participation, the premieres of Wagnerian operas took place on the stages of the largest theaters in Europe and the New World: at the Metropolitan Opera and the Canadian Opera Toronto (Girard), Deutsche Oper Berlin (Rogister), etc. Their production was carried out as part of a joint project of the Bolshoi Theater and the Metropolitan Opera

The premiere of the opera Lohengrin took place on August 28, 1850 in Weimar. Conducted by Franz Liszt, a close friend of Wagner. It was he who contributed to the production of the opera, completed two years earlier. Wagner himself could not attend the solemn performance: the stormy public temperament led him to the barricades of the German revolution of 1848–1849, after which, by a lucky chance, using forged documents, he found refuge in Switzerland, where he was on the day of the premiere. Sitting in one of the hotels in Lucerne and looking at his watch, the composer tried to time the performance...

"Lohengrin" with its slow action, contributing to immersion in the contemplation of the sublime, mystical-incomprehensible, contrasts with the turbulent events experienced by the author upon completion of work on this opera. It is based on the legend of Lohengrin, a young knight of the Holy Grail, who descended from the mountain peaks into the world of people in order to be their protector. The libretto was written by the composer himself, who rethought in a romantic spirit an episode of the medieval novel Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach (Lohengrin is the son of Parzival).

Key moments and plot motifs are borrowed from the novel: the sacredness of the hero's name, which no one can know, and the swan - a companion that accompanies him when he appears in the earthly world. But the main events of the libretto are the fruit of the composer's own imagination. At the beginning of the opera, the only, but urgent request of the knight to his bride Elsa of Brabant is to never ask his name. And yet people, even the most perfect, are not able to restrain their passions. The question asked by Elsa (already his wife) is expected in an everyday sense. A wife needs to know the name of her husband - the unknown is painful for her. The lofty culmination of the finale is a monologue in which the knight names his name... Touching the sacred inevitably entails its loss. Therefore, the outcome of the opera is logical: Lohengrin's departure to the heavenly heights is as mysterious and incomprehensible as his appearance.

A few years after the premiere, the popularity of Lohengrin began to grow like an avalanche. In 1853 it was staged in Wiesbaden, in 1854 - in Leipzig, Breslau, Stettin, Frankfurt am Main and Darmstadt, in 1855 - Cologne, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Augsburg, Hannover, Prague and Riga ... A little later, these cities were added Vienna, Zurich, London, Bologna, Florence, Milan... In 1858, the future King of Bavaria, Ludwig II, attended the premiere of Lohengrin in Munich. Since then, this opera and its author have become objects of admiration and worship for him, and his Neuschwanstein castle (whose interiors were inspired by Lohengrin) is a grandiose “materialization” of these feelings.

Already during the composer's lifetime, Lohengrin was recognized as one of his main masterpieces. Including in Russia. It was Wagner's first opera staged on the Russian stage: the premiere took place in 1868 at the Mariinsky Theatre. And if before the 1917 revolution, Lohengrin was still noticeably inferior in popularity to Tannhäuser, then later it confidently took the lead. This leadership was especially noticeable in the Soviet era, but it still persists.

The first production of Lohengrin at the Bolshoi Theater took place in 1889. And remained in the repertoire for decades. The performance owed its success primarily to the famous performers of the parts of Lohengrin and Elsa - Leonid Sobinov and Antonina Nezhdanova. Shortly after their departure from the stage, in the 1930s, the story of the opera about the legendary knight of the Holy Grail at the Bolshoi Theater was interrupted.

Coproduction with Metropolitan Opera

History

Premiere of this production: 28 August 1850, Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar

Lohengrin is a Romantic opera in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner, first performed in 1850. The story of the eponymous character is taken from medieval German romance, notably the Parzival of Wolfram von Eschenbach and its sequel, Lohengrin, written by a different author, itself inspired by the epic of Garin le Loherain. It is part of the Knight of the Swan tradition.

Synopsis

Place: Antwerp, on the Scheldt.
Time: 10th century

Summary

The people of the Duchy of Brabant are divided by quarrels and political infighting; also, a devious hostile power left over from the region's pagan past is seeking to subvert the prevailing monotheistic government and to return the Duchy to pagan rule. A mysterious knight, sent by God and possessing superhuman charisma and fighting ability, arrives to unite and strengthen the people, and to defend the innocent noble woman Elsa from a false accusation of murder, but he imposes a condition: the people must follow him without knowing his identity. Elsa in particular must never ask his name, or his heritage, or his origin. The conspirators attempt to undermine her faith in her rescuer, to create doubt among the people, and to force him to leave.

Act 1

King Henry the Fowler has arrived in Brabant, where he has assembled the German tribes in order to expel the marauding Hungarians from his dominions. He also needs to settle a dispute involving the disappearance of the child-Duke Gottfried of Brabant. The Duke's guardian, Count Friedrich von Telramund, has accused the Duke's older sister, Elsa, of murdering her brother in order to become Duchess of Brabant. Telramund calls upon the King to punish Elsa and to make him the new Duke of Brabant.

The King calls for Elsa to answer Telramund's accusation. Elsa does not answer the King's inquiries, only lamenting her brother's fate. The King declares that he cannot resolve the matter and will leave it to God's judgment through ordeal by combat. Telramund, a strong and seasoned warrior, agrees enthusiastically. When the King asks Elsa who shall be her champion, Elsa describes a knight she has beheld in her dreams (Narrative: "Alone in dark days").

Twice the Herald calls for a champion to step forward, but gets no response. Elsa kneels and prays that God may send her champion to her. A boat drawn by a swan appears on the river and in it stands a knight in shining armour. He disembarks, dismisses the swan, respectfully greets the king, and asks Elsa if she will have him as her champion and marry him. Elsa kneels in front of him and places her honour in his keeping. He asks only one thing in return for his service: Elsa must never ask him his name or where he has come from. Elsa agrees to this.

Telramund's supporters advise him to withdraw because he cannot prevail against the Knight's powers, but he proudly refuses. The chorus prays to God ("Herr und Gott") for victory for the one whose cause is just. Ortrud, Telramund's wife, does not join the prayer, but privately expresses confidence that Telramund will win. The combat commences. The unknown Knight defeats Telramund but spares his life. Taking Elsa by the hand, he declares her innocent. The crowd exits, cheering and celebrating.

Act 2

Night in the courtyard outside the cathedral

Telramund and Ortrud, banished from court, listen unhappily to the distant party-music. Ortrud reveals that she is a pagan witch (daughter of Radbod Duke of Frisia), and tries to revive Telramund's courage, assuring him that her people (and he) are destined to rule the kingdom again. She plots to induce Elsa to violate the mysterious knight's only condition.

When Elsa appears on the balcony before dawn, she hears Ortrud lamenting and pities her. As Elsa descends to open the castle door, Ortrud prays to her pagan gods, Wodan and Freia, for malice, guile, and cunning, in order to deceive Elsa and restore pagan rule to the region. Ortrud warns Elsa that since she knows nothing about her rescuer, he could leave at any time as suddenly as he came, but Elsa is sure of the Knight's virtues. The two women go into the castle. Left alone outside, Telramund vows to bring about the Knight's downfall.

The sun rises and the people assemble. The Herald announces that Telramund is now banished, and that anyone who follows Telramund shall be considered an outlaw by the law of the land. In addition, he announces that the King has offered to make the unnamed knight the Duke of Brabant; however, the Knight has declined the title, and prefers to be known only as "Protector of Brabant". The Herald further announces that the Knight will lead the people to glorious new conquests, and will celebrate the marriage of himself and Elsa. In the back of the crowd, four noblemen quietly express misgivings to each other because the Knight has rescinded their privileges and is calling them to arms. Telramund secretly draws the four noblemen aside and assures them that he will regain his position and stop the Knight, by accusing him of sorcery.

As Elsa and her attendants are about to enter the church, Ortrud rushes to the front of the procession and challenges Elsa to explain who the Knight is and why anyone should follow him. Their conversation is interrupted by the entrance of the King with the Knight. Elsa tells both of them that Ortrud was interrupting the ceremony. The King tells Ortrud to step aside, then leads Elsa and the Knight toward the church. Just as they are about to enter the church, Telramund enters. He claims that his defeat in combat was invalid because the Knight did not give his name (trial by combat traditionally being open only to established citizens), then accuses the Knight of sorcery. He demands that the Knight must reveal his name; otherwise the King should rule the trial by combat invalid. The Knight refuses to reveal his identity and claims that only one person in the world has the right to make him do so: his beloved Elsa, and she has pledged not to exercise that right. Elsa, though visibly shaken and uncertain, assures him of her confidence. King Henry refuses Telramund's questions, and the nobles of Brabant and Saxony praise and honor the Knight. Elsa falls back into the crowd where Ortrud and Telramund try to intimidate her, but the Knight forces them both to leave the ceremony, and consoles Elsa. Elsa takes one last look at the banished Ortrud, then enters the church with the wedding procession.

Act 3

Scene 1: The bridal chamber

Elsa and her new husband are ushered in with the well-known bridal chorus, and they express their love for each other. Ortrud's words, however, have made an impression on Elsa; she laments that her name sounds so sweet on her husband's lips but she cannot utter his name. She asks him to tell her his name when no one else is around, but at all instances he refuses. Finally, despite his warnings, she asks the Knight the fatal questions. Before the Knight can answer, Telramund and his four recruits rush into the room in order to attack him. The Knight defeats and kills Telramund. Then, he sorrowfully turns to Elsa and asks her to follow him to the King, to whom he will now reveal his secrets.

Scene 2: On the banks of the Scheldt (as in Act 1)

The troops arrive equipped for war. Telramund's corpse is brought in. Elsa comes forward, then the Knight. He tells the King that Elsa has broken her promise, and discloses his identity ("In fernem Land") by recounting the story of the Holy Grail and of Monsalvat. He reveals himself as Lohengrin, Knight of the Grail and son of King Parsifal, sent to protect an unjustly accused woman. The laws of the Holy Grail say that Knights of the Grail must remain anonymous. If their identity is revealed, they must return home.

As Lohengrin sadly bids farewell to Elsa, the swan-boat reappears. Lohengrin tells Elsa that if she had kept her promise, she could have recovered her lost brother, and gives her his sword, horn and ring, for he is to become the future leader of Brabant. As Lohengrin tries to get in the boat, Ortrud appears. She tells Elsa that the swan is actually Gottfried, Elsa's brother, whom she cursed to become a swan. The people consider Ortrud guilty of witchcraft. Lohengrin prays and the swan turns back into young Gottfried. Lohengrin declares him the Duke of Brabant. Ortrud sinks as she sees her plans thwarted.

A dove descends from heaven and, taking the place of the swan at the head of the boat, leads Lohengrin to the castle of the Holy Grail. Elsa is stricken with grief and falls to the ground dead.

Venue Info

Bolshoi Theatre - Moscow
Teatralnaya Square 1

The Bolshoi Theatre is one of the world’s most iconic cultural landmarks, renowned for its grandeur, history, and artistic excellence. Located in the heart of Moscow, this legendary theatre has been home to unforgettable performances of opera and ballet for over two centuries. Its majestic architecture, world-class acoustics, and rich tradition make every event at the Bolshoi a truly unforgettable experience.

On 28 March (17 according to the old style) 1776, Catherine II granted the prosecutor, Prince Pyotr Urusov, the "privilege" of "maintaining" theatre performances of all kinds, including masquerades, balls and other forms of entertainment, for a period of ten years. And it is from this date that Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre traces its history.

The Bolshoi building, which for many years now has been regarded as one of Moscow’s main sights, was opened on 20 October 1856, on Tsar Alexander II’s coronation day.

On 29 October 2002 the Bolshoi was given a New Stage and it was here it presented its performances during the years the Main Stage was undergoing massive reconstruction and refurbishment.

The reconstruction project lasted from l July 2005 to 28 October 2011. As a result of this reconstruction, many lost features of the historic building were reinstated and, at the same time, it has joined the ranks of most technically equipped theatre buildings in the world.

The Bolshoi Theatre is a symbol of Russia for all time. It was awarded this honor due to the major contribution it made to the history of the Russian performing arts. This history is on-going and today Bolshoi Theatre artists continue to contribute to it many bright pages.

The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are among the oldest and best known ballet and opera companies in the world. It is by far the world's biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers.

Lohengrin

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Bolshoi Theatre - Moscow Teatralnaya Square 1

Bolshoi Theatre - Moscow
Teatralnaya Square 1