The age-old story of good being undermined by corrupt forces and the forbidden question comes to us from the Lyric Opera of Chicago on this week’s Sunday Opera (8/12 3:00 p.m.) and their production of “Lohengrin” by Richard Wagner. Knight of the Grail Lohengrin, son of Parsifal, is sent to Brabant to unify the people and protect the unjustly accused Elsa under the proviso that he does so anonymously and that no one must ever ask his name. Of course, Elsa asks, and loses both Lohengrin and her life as a result.
The Lyric Opera cast includes Klaus Florian Vogt in the title role, Jennifer Davis as his love Elsa, and Christine Goerke as the evil sorceress Ortrud. The remainder of the cast features Georg Zeppenfeld as King Heinrich, Thomas J. Mayer as Telramund, and Kostas Smoriginas as the herald with Andris Nelsons leading the Lyric Opera Chorus and Orchestra.
