Co-presented by Shanghai Opera House & Shanghai Grand Theatre

Bayerische Staatsoper & Shanghai Opera House Co-production

Shanghai Grand Theatre 23-24 Season Opening Performance

Richard Wagner <Lohengrin>

Composer: Richard Wagner

Librettist: Richard Wagner

Premiere: 28 August 1850 at the Großherzogliches Hoftheater

Conductor                              Xu Zhong

Dramaturg                              Kata Wéber

Staging Director                         Kornél Mundruczó

Executive Director                       Anna Brunnlechner

Stage Designer                          Monika Pormale

Costume Designer                       Anna Axer-Fijalkowska

Lighting Designer                        Felice Ross

Lighting Adaptation                     Lukas Kaschube

Chorus master                           Martin Wright

Vocal Coach                           Alessandro Amoretti

Tenor| Lohengrin                                        Stefan Vinke

Soprano| Elsa of Brabant                                Charlotte-Anne Shipley

Baritone|Friedrich of Telramund, a Count of Brabant       Egils Silins

Mezzo-Soprano|Ortrud, Telramund’s wife                Heike Wessels

Bass|Heinrich der Vogler                                 Sorin Coliban

Bass|The King’s Herald                                  Jochen Kupfer

Chorus | Shanghai Opera House Chorus

Orchestra|Shanghai Opera House Orchestra & Suzhou Symphony Orchestra

Synopsis:

Lohengrin is a romantic opera in three acts by German composer Wagner, premiered on 28 August 1850 at the Grand Duke's Court Theatre in Weimar, conducted by Franz Liszt. This co-production between the Bavarian State Opera and the Shanghai Opera House will be the first time that the opera has been performed in its entirety in Shanghai.
Set in 10th century Antwerp, Elsa is accused of murdering her brother Gottfried, and the mysterious Knight appears, led by a swan, who is willing to fight to defend Elsa. Demanding that Elsa promise never to ask about his name, origin or past, he defeats Count Telamon, who has accused Elsa, and wins her hand in marriage. Theramon's wife, Olthoute, has evil magical powers, and she plants the seeds of doubt about the knight in Elsa's mind. Elsa cannot resist breaking her promise on her wedding night and asks about the mysterious knight's origins, so the knight must leave, and before he does, he publicly declares himself to be the Grail Knight Lohengrin. He releases Gottfried, who has been transformed into a swan by Olthut, from his magical bonds, reuniting Elsa's siblings, but himself has to return to the Grail City of Monsalvat to continue guarding the Grail of Graal.