Lohengrin

The legend of the Swan Knight who rescues a princess from the forces of pagan evil is one of Christian Europe’s foundation myths. Lohengrin transformed Wagner into an international figure almost overnight, and it remained his most popular work throughout the nineteenth century. Thomas Grey proposes that this was because it offered a “cautious taste” of his later works, while preserving some of the familiar traditions of French grand opera. John Deathridge asks why Wagner denied its Christian symbolism, and Janet Nelson argues that his vision of the Christian Middle Ages prefigured a modern historical approach. The English translation is by Amanda Holden.

Contents: Wagner’s ‘Alter Ego’, John Deathridge; Wagner’s ‘Lohengrin’: between Grand Opera and Musikdrama, Thomas S. Grey; History, Women’s History and beyond History in ‘Lohengrin’, Janet L. Nelson; Lohengrin in Brabant, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm; Lohengrin: Poem by Richard Wagner; Lohengrin: English Translation by Amanda Holden