Die Feen

The opera tells the story of Arindal, a mortal prince who falls in love with the fairy Ada. Though they marry, Ada is bound by a curse: she must conceal her true nature, and if Arindal ever asks about it, she will be forced to leave him and return to the fairy realm for eight years. At first, their union is joyful, but the pressures of court intrigue and doubt weigh heavily on Arindal, and he eventually breaks his promise by demanding to know Ada’s secret. Bound by the curse, she vanishes, leaving Arindal to despair while their children are turned to stone as part of her punishment.

Determined to win Ada back, Arindal undergoes a series of heroic trials, including resisting terrifying visions and magical temptations sent to break his resolve. His courage and steadfast love allow him to overcome every challenge, and at last the curse is broken. Ada is restored, their children return to life, and the fairy realm blesses their reunion. The opera ends with the triumph of love, fidelity, and redemption, marking Wagner’s youthful embrace of fairy-tale fantasy and Romantic ideals.