Ortrud

Ortrud is a female character from Richard Wagner's opera Lohengrin (1848).

Role

In act I, Ortrud and her husband Friedrich von Telramund accuse Elsa von Brabant of murdering her brother Gottfried. Gottfried having disappeared, they claim the land of Brabant as Ortrud's. This claim fails when the mysterious Grail-Knight Lohengrin arrives and vindicates Elsa in a duel with Telramund. Elsa and the unknown knight become engaged. In act II, Ortrud is blamed by Telramund for having originated the plot against Elsa. Ortrud reveals to the audience the fact that she is a witch. Undaunted, Ortrud has already hatched another plan. She pleads with Elsa for forgiveness and tries to make her doubt the character of Lohengrin, who has made Elsa swear never to ask him to reveal his identity. Act III sees Ortrud's triumph when Elsa, on the day of her wedding to Lohengrin, breaks her vow. Lohengrin answers her question (Grail Narrative) and, as required by Grail law, leaves her. But his parting prayers free Gottfried, who had been turned into a swan by Ortrud herself. Frustrated at the last, Ortrud dies of sheer rage.

Music

Ortrud is written for a mezzo-soprano but the role may be sung by a dramatic soprano.

Singers of the role

a is for alto, ms for mezzo-soprano, s for soprano.

• Maria Olszewska (a/ms)
• Marjorie Lawrence (s)
• Karin Branzell (ms)
• Kerstin Thorborg (a/ms)
• Margarete Klose (a/ms)
• Margaret Harshaw (s)
• Astrid Varnay (s)
• Helena Braun (s)
• Nell Rankin (ms)
• Rita Gorr (ms)
• Christa Ludwig (ms)
• Grace Hoffman (ms)
• Dame Gwyneth Jones (s)
• Dunja Vejzovic (ms/s)
• Elizabeth Connell (s)
• Eva Randova (ms)
• Marisa Galvany (s)
• Anja Silja (s)
• Gabriele Schnaut (ms/s)
• Waltraud Meier (ms)
• Leonie Rysanek (s)
• Eva Marton (s)
• Deborah Polaski (s)