Liszt's transcriptions of excerpts from Wagner's stage works may be seen as part of his campaign to bring Wagner's work to the notice of a wider audience. The four transcriptions from Wagner's Lohengrin include Elsas Brautzug zum MÃ¼nster (Elsa's Bridal Procession to the Cathedral) [1], published with a transcribed excerpt from TannhÃ¤user in 1853. The mysterious knight Lohengrin has championed Elsa, defeating her enemy Friedrich von Telramund, who has accused her of killing her brother and usurping the dukedom of Brabant. Elsa is pledged not to question the knight as to his name, but, prompted by her enemies, does so. He reveals himself as Lohengrin, son of Parsifal, and dedicated to the Holy Grail, now bound to leave her. Before he goes, he restores Elsa's brother to human form, breaking the spell cast on him, and Elsa falls dead in her brother's arms. The bridal procession of the second act accompanies Elsa's progress to the cathedral, soon to be interrupted by the challenge of Ortrud, Telramund's wife. Liszt ends the excerpt with a short coda, marked Lento assai.

Tracklist:

Wagner - 2 Stucke Aus Tannhauser Und Lohengrin, S445/R278: Wagner - 2 Stucke Aus Tannhauser Und Lohengrin, S445/R278: No. 2. Els
Wagner - Isoldes Liebestod Aus Tristan Und Isolde, S447/R280
Wagner - Phantasiestuck Uber Motive Aus Rienzi Santo Spirito Cavaliere, S439/R272
Wagner - Tannhauser: Pilgrim's Chorus, S443/R276
Wagner - Aus Lohengrin, S446/R279: No. 1. Festspiel Und Brautlied
Wagner - Aus Lohengrin, S446/R279: No. 2. Lohengrins Verweis
Wagner - Spinnerlied Aus Dem Fliegenden Hollander, S440/R273
Wagner - Ballade Aus Dem Fliegenden Hollander, S441/R274
Wagner - Aus Lohengrin, S446/R279: No. 2. Elsa's Traum
Wagner - Feierlicher Marsch Zum Heiligen Gral Aus Parsifal, S450/R283

UPC: 747313289578
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 8.27.13
Format: CD

Respighi/Janacek/Strauss - Transcriptions of Wagner (CD)