At the end of this opera, Gottfried is returned to his human form, but the title character is forced to sail away because his wife Elsa breaks her vow by asking him his name.
Joseph Keilberth's acclaimed 1954 recording of this opera featured Astrid Varnay in a supporting role alongside Wolfgang Windgassen. The heroine falls into a dream-like state while confiding to the King in its aria "Einsam in trüben Tage." High violins, oboes, and flutes introduce the slow A-major prelude to its first act, whose melody re-appears in the narration (*) "In Fernem Land" later on. The oft-excerpted Prelude to Act III of this opera precedes a wedding scene where Telramund is killed. At the end of this opera, Gottfried is returned to his human form, but the title character is forced to sail away because his wife Elsa breaks her vow by asking him his name. For 10 points, name this opera about a Knight of the Swan by Richard Wagner, perhaps most famous for its "Bridal Chorus."
Joseph Keilberth's acclaimed 1954 recording of this opera featured Astrid Varnay in a supporting role alongside Wolfgang Windgassen.
Lohengrin