Recorded in 1914 by German tenor Robert Hutt (1878–1942).
Earlier in Richard Wagner's opera, Lohengrin appeared and promised to fight for Elsa, but only on condition that she never asked him for his name or origin. In Act III, Scene 2 he tells the King that Elsa has broken her promise, and discloses his identity by recounting the story of the Holy Grail and of Monsalvat. He reveals himself as Knight of the Grail, son of King Parsifal, sent to protect an unjustly accused woman, and lastly, as Lohengrin. The laws of the Holy Grail say that Knights of the Grail must remain anonymous; if their identity is revealed, they must return home.
German lyrics:
In fernem Land, unnahbar euren Schritten,
Liegt eine Burg, die Montsalvat genannt;
Ein lichter Tempel stehet dort inmitten,
So kostbar, als auf Erden nichts bekannt;
Drin ein Gefäß von wundertät’gem Segen
Wird dort als höchstes Heiligtum bewacht:
Es ward, daß sein der Menschen reinste pflegen,
Herab von einer Engelschar gebracht;
Alljährlich naht vom Himmel eine taube,
Um neu zu stärken seine Wunderkraft:
Es heißt der Gral, und selig reinster Glaube
Erteilt durch ihn sich seiner Ritterschaft.
Wer nun dem Gral zu dienen ist erkoren,
Den rüstet er mit überird’scher Macht;
An dem ist jedes bösen Trug verloren,
Wenn ihn er sieht, weicht dem des Todes Nacht.
Selbst wer von ihm in ferne Land’ entsendet,
Zum Streiter für der Tugend recht ernannt,
Dem wird nicht seine heil’ge Kraft entwendet,
Bleibt als sein Ritter dort er unerkannt.
So hehrer Art doch ist des Grales Segen,
Enthüllt – muß er des Laien Auge fliehn;
Des Ritters drum sollt Zweifel ihr nicht hegen,
Erkennt ihr ihn – dann muß er von euch ziehn.
Nun hört, wie ich verbotner Frage lohne!
Vom Gral ward ich zu euch daher gesandt:
Mein Vater Parzival trägt seine Krone,
Sein Ritter ich – bin Lohengrin genannt.
English translation:
Far and away, unapproachable to your steps
There is a castle called Montsalvat;
In the middle there stands a luminous temple,
As precious as nothing else on earth is known.
A vessel of miraculous blessing
Is guarded inside as supreme sanctuary.
It has been brought down by a host of angels,
To be cared for by the purest human beings.
Annually a dove from above approaches
To reinforce its miraculous power;
Its name is Sangrail, and it grants blissfully purest believe
To its knighthood.
Who is predestined to serve the Sangrail
It prepares with supernal power;
Every evil's deception is lost to him,
When he sees it, death's power vanishes;
Even to him who is sent by it to alien lands,
Appointed as fighter for virtue's justice,
His holy power will not be taken away,
If he goes unrecognized there as its knight.
May the Sangrail's blessing be ever of so noble cast,
It must flee the layman's eyes when it is unveiled.
Therefore you shall not doubt the knight,
If you recognize him - he has to leave you.
Now listen, how I reward the forbidden question:
By the Sangrail I was sent to you:
My father Parzival wears its crown,
His knight, I - am called Lohengrin.
Music source: Internet Archive / Public Domain Mark 1.0
Images source: Wikimedia Commons / Public domain (L-R):
1. LOHENGRIN: Rudolf Laubenthal in the role of Lohengrin
2. MONTSALVAT: 'Die Gralsburg' (The Grail Castle) by Hans Thoma, 1899
3. THE TEMPLE: 'Gralstempel' by Paul von Joukowsky, 1882
4. THE GRAIL: 'The Attainment: The Vision of the Holy Grail to Sir Galahad, Sir Bors, and Sir Perceval' by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris and John Henry Dearle, Number 6 of the Holy Grail tapestries woven by Morris & Co. 1895 for Stanmore Hall
5. THE GRAIL: 'The Knight of the Holy Grail' by Frederick J Waugh, ca 1912
6. THE GRAIL & THE DOVE: 'The Damsel of the Sanct Grael' by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1874
7. THE KNIGHTS: 'The Arming and Departure of the Knights', Number 2 of the Holy Grail tapestries woven by Morris & Co. 1891-94 for Stanmore Hall
8. A KNIGHT: 'Sir Galahad, the Quest for the Holy Grail' by Arthur Hughes, 1870
9. LOHENGRIN: Rudolf Laubenthal in the role of Lohengrin
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