hrong to the
Muenster, where Elsa is to be united to her protector. Telramund tries
vainly to accuse the stranger; he is pushed back and silenced. As Elsa
is about to enter the church, Ortrud steps forward, claiming the right
of {175} precedence. Elsa, frightened, repents too late having
protected her. Ortrud upbraids her with not even having asked her
husband's name and descent. All are taken aback, but Elsa defends her
husband, winning everybody by her quiet dignity.

She turns to Lohengrin for protection, but, alas, the venom rankles in
her heart.

When they are all returning from church, Telramund once more steps
forth, accusing Lohengrin and demanding from the King to know the
stranger's name. Lohengrin declares that his name may not be told,
excepting his wife asks. Elsa is in great trouble, but once more her
love conquers, and she does not put the fatal question.

But in the third act, when the two lovers are alone she knows no rest.
Although her husband asks her to trust him, she fears that he may once
leave her as mysteriously, as he came, and at last she cannot refrain
from asking the luckless question. From this moment all happiness is
lost to her. Telramund enters to slay his enemy, but Lohengrin, taking
his sword, kills him with one stroke. Then he leads Elsa before the
King and loudly announces his secret. He tells the astounded hearers,
that he is the Keeper of the Holy-Grail. Sacred and invulnerable to
the villain, a defender of right and virtue, he may stay with mankind
as long as his name is unknown. But now he is obliged to reveal it.
He is Lohengrin, son of Percival, King of the Grail, and is now
compelled to leave his wife and return to his home. The swan appears,
from whose neck {176} Lohengrin takes a golden ring, giving it to Elsa
together with his sword and golden horn.

Just as Lohengrin is about to depart Ortrud appears, triumphantly
declaring, that it was she, who changed young Godfrey into a swan, and
that Lohengrin would have freed him too, had Elsa not mistrusted her
husband.--Lohengrin, hearing this, sends a fervent prayer to Heaven and
loosening the swan's golden chain, the animal dips under water and in
his stead rises Godfrey, the lawful heir of Brabant. A white dove
descends to draw the boat in which Lohengrin glides away and Elsa falls
senseless in her brother's arm.

LORLE.

Opera in three acts by ALBAN FOERSTER.

Text by HANS HEINRICH SCHEFSKY.

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