Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral

“Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” - Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
Arr. Franco Cesarini
The music drama Lohengrin, of which “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral” is part, was first produced in Weimar, Germany, in 1850. The story was inspired by the legend of the Holy Grail and concerns Lohengrin, the Keeper
of the Grail. Lohengrin, the mystic, silver-clad knight, came to save the people of Antwerp from the wrath of their Hungarian invaders, and he became the defender of Elsa of Brabant, who was unjustly accused of murdering her
brother. Lohengrin, victorious in battle over Elsa’s accuser, takes her as his bride-an event which inspired Wagner to pen some of the most dramatic and beautiful music known. This setting, borrowed from the opera repertoire, was arranged by Franco Cesarini, professor of wind orchestra conducting at the Musikhochschule in Zurich and conductor of the "Civica Filarmonica di Lugano" in Lugano, Switzerland.