Posted by Steve Dedman on October 02, 2003 at 23:09:08:
In Reply to: Elsa's Procession posted by M.E.G. on October 02, 2003 at 20:34:22:
A qick google search ("lohingrin") yields the following:
ACT II: Before dawn in the castle courtyard, Ortrud and the lamenting Telramund swear
vengeance. When Elsa appears serenely in a window, Ortrud attempts to sow distrust in
the girl's mind, preying on her curiosity, but Elsa innocently offers the scheming Ortrud
friendship. Inside, while the victorious knight is proclaimed guardian of Brabant, the
banned Telramund furtively enlists four noblemen to side with him against his newfound
rival. At the cathedral entrance, Ortrud and Telramund attempt to stop the wedding - she
by suggesting that the unknown knight is in fact an impostor, he by accusing Elsa's
bridegroom of sorcery. The crowd stirs uneasily. Though troubled by doubt, Elsa
reiterates her faith in the knight before they enter the church, accompanied by King
Heinrich. http://www.metopera.org/synopses/lohengri.html
ACT II. The courtyard outside the cathedral. It is night. Telramund
and Ortrud, who have been banished, appear in wretched
garments. Ortrud endeavours to reanimate Telramund's courage.
She is a heathen, the daughter of Radbod, the duke of Frisia, and
deals in magic. She schemes to induce Elsa to ask Lohengrin the
forbidden questions. When Elsa appears on the balcony in the
light of the morning, she sees Ortrud and pities her. Telramund
unobserved retires into the shadow of a house. The populace
assembles and the Herald announces that the king has made
Lohengrin Duke of Brabant, which title he refuses and wishes to
be known only as "Guardian of Brabant." As the king, Lohengrin,
Elsa and her attendants are about to enter the church, Ortrud,
clad in magnificent attire, appears and accuses Lohengrin of being
a magician, whose name Elsa herself does not know. Telramund
also appears and claims to have been vanquished by fraud, as he
does not know the name of his opponent. Lohengrin refuses to
reveal his identity, saying that one only has the right to know his
origin. To Elsa alone will he answer. Elsa assures him of her
confidence, and they enter the church. http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohengrin
ACT II
Telramund tells Ortrud that they must leave Antwerp before morning. He
launches into a tirade against her; it was through her that he lost his honour and
now does not even have a sword with which to kill her. Ortrud asks why he does
not trust her. Telramund replies that it was Ortrud’s account of witnessing Elsa
killing Gottfried that led him to accuse Elsa and renounce her in favour of Ortrud.
Ortrud denies that she lied and says Telramund is a coward. Ortrud tells
Telramund that were the knight to be forced to reveal his name and origins his
strength would vanish. The only person who can discover his secrets is Elsa. If
Telramund accuses the knight of using sorcery to win the fight it will arouse
Elsa’s suspicions. Failing that, Telramund could use force, for anyone
strengthened by magic loses their power if even the smallest part of their body is
cut off. Telramund now believes he was tricked out of a just victory, and he and
Ortrud swear vengeance.
Elsa appears and tells the breezes of her happiness (Euch Lüften, die mein
Klagen). Ortrud sends Telramund away and calls to Elsa, asking her what harm
she has ever done her and why she envies her happiness as wife of the man Elsa
scorned, a man now wracked with remorse for having wrongly accused Elsa of a
crime. Elsa does not know what to make of this and invites Ortrud in. Alone,
Ortrud calls on her profane gods – including Wotan and Freia – to help her exact
revenge (Entweihtert Götter). Elsa appears and is alarmed at seeing Ortrud so
humbled. Elsa forgives her and asks her forgiveness in return, saying that she
will ask the knight to forgive Telramund too. Elsa then invites Ortrud to
accompany her to her wedding the next morning. Ortrud says she is powerless to
repay such kindness but warns Elsa not to place blind trust in the strange knight,
who might abandon her as mysteriously as he materialized. Horrified, Elsa affirms
her faith in him. Ortrud privately determines to take advantage of Elsa’s
confidence. As they leave together, Telramund, who has overheard their
conversation, revels in Ortrud’s cunning: he vows to kill the man who stole his
honour.
Dawn breaks; the Brabantine soldiers and nobles gather. The herald announces
that the King has banished Telramund and that anyone who consorts with him will
suffer the same fate. In addition, the King has given the lands of Brabant to the
knight, who wants to take the title Protector rather than Duke. The Protector will
celebrate his wedding that day but on the following will lead the Brabantines to
battle. The men react enthusiastically. But four nobles, formerly Telramund’s
liegemen, express disquiet. Telramund, who has overheard them, says he will
accuse the knight of treachery. The nobles keep him out of sight.
Pages announce the arrival of Elsa and her entourage and everyone hails her.
Ortrud rushes forward and declares that she will no longer follow Elsa like a
servant. To Elsa’s horror, Ortrud vows to avenge her suffering: a false judgment
has caused her once-honoured husband to be banished; no-one, not even Elsa
herself, knows the name or origins of her betrothed. Elsa confidently defends the
knight, with the people’s support, but Ortrud reiterates her accusation, saying
that Elsa’s reluctance to ask him betrays her own fears of the answer.
They are interrupted by the arrival of the King and the knight, who want to know
the cause of the disturbance. Elsa asks the knight to protect her from Ortrud. He
denounces Ortrud and comforts Elsa. Telramund now accuses the knight of
sorcery and of having won the fight with the aid of magic. He demands to know
the knight’s name; otherwise his innocence will be compromised.
The knight says Telramund has no right to question him: the only person who can
command him is Elsa. With consternation he sees she is troubled. Telramund and
Ortrud triumphantly realize Elsa now has doubts; she knows it would be unwise
for the knight to reveal his identity publicly; the king and his men swear support
for the knight (Welch ein Geheimnis). Telramund tries to tell Elsa that if he could
remove even a finger-tip from the knight, the truth would be revealed; if she calls
for him that night he will act. The knight intervenes and drives Telramund and
Ortrud away, then asks Elsa if she feels she has to question him. She replies that
her love is stronger than her doubt. The procession resumes and as it moves off
Elsa sees Ortrud, who raises her arm as though in victory. http://info.royaloperahouse.org/Synopses/index.cfm?ccs=77&cs=666
Don't know if this helps or not...