Lohengrin

The 'Bridal Chorus,' universally known as 'Here Comes the Bride,' comes from Act 3 of Lohengrin, where it is sung by the women's chorus as Elsa proceeds to her wedding chamber. The 'Prelude to Act 1' is also one of the most frequently performed orchestral excerpts from any Wagner opera.

Lohengrin premiered on August 28, 1850, at the Grand Ducal Court Theatre in Weimar. Wagner himself was in political exile and could not attend, so the premiere was conducted by Franz Liszt, who was a fierce champion of Wagner's music during this period.

The opera follows Lohengrin, the 'Knight of the Swan,' who arrives in a boat drawn by a swan to defend Elsa of Brabant against a false accusation of murder. The central dramatic condition is that Elsa must never ask Lohengrin's name or origin — a prohibition she ultimately cannot resist, leading to the opera's tragic resolution.

King Henry the Fowler appears in Act 1 and Act 3, presiding over a gathering of the German tribes and urging Brabant to provide troops for the defense of the empire. His presence situates the opera's fantasy narrative within a specific 10th-century German historical and political context.