Thread by @SaxonGurth

Wagner's Lohengrin:

First performed in 1850, this was his final opera before starting Der Ring cycle.

Come find out why the tale of Lohengrin, "irresistibly attracted and enthralled," Wagner to create a new, "genuine poem of the Folk."

Throw off your shackles! Your Folk calls!

First, you must understand Wagner.

He said,
“I am the most German being. I am the German spirit.”

This one quote defines Wagner. His motivations, his character, his essence. Truly his nature is one tied with Germany.

His name and works will be echoed by Germans forever.

He aspired to bring the German people into a new cultural era.

He accomplished this by creating novel folklore.

Wagner considered operas to be the highest form of poetic drama, and Lohengrin was made to fully utilize this format.

Before continuing, please wait, I implore you. Take a moment and experience what Wagner has done.

This is a nice chorus sequence from Lohengrin sung by the Chor der Bayreuther.

I would even prefer you listen to this than read the thread.

The Lohengrin tale was first revealed to Wagner when he was writing "Tannhauser". This first encounter seemed to be a mystical experience for him. In Wagner's autobiography, he simply says, "with one blow a whole new world of poetic stuff was opened."

The Lohengrin tale first appears in Wolfram von Eschenbach's "Parzival" (the subject of Wagner's final opera).

Lohengrin is a variation on the Swan Knight tale where an unnamed man rescues a damsel under the solitary condition that he may keep his anonymity.

You likely know the "Bridal Chorus" from Lohengrin. It's commonly referred to as the "wedding song or Here Comes the Bride". This song and "Flight of the Valkyries" are probably the two most iconic pieces of Wagner's music.

The opening performance in Weimar was scheduled to coincide with the birthday of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (author of the RW's fan-favorite play "Faust") who was born on 28 August.

Like "Faust", Lohengrin would show itself to be a sublime work. A treasure for the German people.

While writing Lohengrin, Wagner felt an, "utter loneliness." Beset with restlessness and perfectionism, he often felt that his genius was shackled by the constraints of our world. Yet, a "fanatical yearning, was born of that feeling of isolation," and he poured it into Lohengrin.

Lohengrin was meant to touch the pulse of our most human emotion. Love.

Wagner said, "Lohengrin sought the woman who should trust in him," and, "love him as he was." But his maiden fails to uphold his one request and our forlorn hero must depart back, "into his loneliness."

In Wagner's words, Lohengrin's, "longing was not for worship nor for adoration, but for the only thing sufficient to redeem him from his loneliness, to still his deep desire,—for Love, for being loved, for being understood through Love."

Wagner saw the character of Lohengrin as, "the only absolute tragedy, in fine, of the tragic element of modern life; and that of just as great significance for the Present, as was the "Antigone "—though in another relation—for the life of the Hellenic State."

Before his opera, Wagner was appalled by the public's opinion of the character.

Wagner said, "It seems, most hard to comprehend, how the story should have been so misunderstood that Lohengrin was looked on as a cold, forbidding figure, more prone to rouse dislike than sympathy."

Lohengrin's intent was to elicit basic emotions accompanied by deep introspection. Critics often were unable to grasp this. Most 19th c. opera critics could find nothing with which to compare Wagner. Their basis was Meyerbeer, Spontini, and Rossini and Wagner were wholly novel.

Defending his opera, Wagner claimed, "In effect, this "Lohengrin" is an entirely new phenomenon to the modern mind... only he who is able to free himself from all our modern abstract generalisms, and look Life straight into the eyes, can understand this Lohengrin."

It was made for the German people, yet only the observant could truly understand it.

All may see, yet few could comprehend.

Or, as Wagner would say, "Criticism had proved itself unequal to alter the denouement of my Lohengrin."

Was Wagner too haughty, or could he see a future his "peers" were unable to envision? Listen to the opera and let me know.

For SaxonGurth, Lohengrin is up there with King Lear. Few works of art can so touch my soul. How fatal is the quest for pure love when coupled with our natural, often terminal, inclination toward curiosity?

Nothing would please me more for you to DM me and talk more Lohengrin.

There is much more to say, but, as you may know, I try to keep my threads short.

If there is interest I can expand upon whatever is requested.

Remember, if you're German, this is for YOU. They can take every almost everything but they can never take this. Go with God.

Friends, as always, I hope you have enjoyed this thread. I really make them for you all. Praying you all have a wonderful rest of your week.

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