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Encapsulated in a POD, we bring you the story of a legendary medieval European knight, set in the Duchy of Brabant, a region between Belgium and Holland, what was once Flanders, in the heart of Europe. Below is a link to Georgina's complete story from Richard Wagner's opera.
Lohengrin is a fictional epic character, which has no historical basis (unlike our previous story, Prince Igor). His legend is a reflection of the forms of government and values that prevailed in many regions of Europe in the Middle Ages. We have published this complete story here.
From Mirlo Studio, we bring you today three reflections on this story for our present times. We share them with the idea of provoking some debate of ideas, in family, and among friends of all ages.
* What is the presumption of innocence for? The story begins with some harsh accusations: Elsa has made her brother disappear out of envy and to seize power. There is no proof, but the accusers are forceful. Fortunately, the king, who must judge, gives the accused a voice to defend herself... Since there is no proof, the king decides to put Elsa's fate in the hands of Heaven, God and Providence, through a duel. This solution seems to us today, and yet unfounded accusations abound, the presumption of innocence seems to lose strength when our preferences are at stake...
* Are compassion and repentance old ideas? Lohengrin is a hero who spares his rival's life, setting an example of compassion and generosity, only in exchange for his consideration of his repentance. Today, the words “compassion” and “repentance” sound old-fashioned to many, and “solidarity” and “reintegration” are preferred instead. However, the human condition does not seem to change as easily as language, no matter how much it imposes itself?
* What is the value of the given word? In Lohengrin, oaths and promises take center stage, and when the given word is betrayed, the consequences must be assumed: this is what is called “responsibility”. Some approaches in Medieval Europe that invite a very current discussion ...
If you think these topics deserve a conversation with your loved ones, be sure to share this post. It is open and free!
Listen to the complete Lohengrin tale, including some extraordinary music that you know for sure at this link.
We are testing new tools, like so many independent artists today. With the help of the SmartistsLAB, we are moving towards the Internet of Value.
*NOTE: We have edited this Pod with the help of ElevenLabs for the voice of the narrator and the Lohengrin and Elsa characters, as well as and old public domain recordings that can be found at European Archives. We are still testing, so any feedback in comments or by email would be much appreciated...
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