Wagner: Lohengrin / Bohm, Watson, Thomas, Ludwig, Wachter

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Label: Orfeo
Release Date: June 25, 2013

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Featuring ⌄

COMPOSER

WAGNER, RICHARD
ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE

Choir An
PERFORMER

Talvela, Thomas, Watson, Berry, Ludwig, Waechter, Equiluz, Sperlbauer, Lackner, Pantscheff

Product Details ⌄

RELEASE DATE

June 25, 2013
UPC

4011790862323
CATALOG NUMBER

ORF-C862133D
LABEL

Orfeo
NUMBER OF DISCS

3
GENRE

Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

Works ⌄

Act I: Prelude

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Hort! Grafen, Edle, Freie von Brabant!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Dank, Konig, dir, dass du zu richten kamst!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Walter Berry, Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Seht ihn! Sie naht, die hart Beklagte!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Einsam in truben Tagen hab' ich zu Gott gefleht

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Gott allein soll jezt in dieser Sache noch entscheiden!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Des Ritters will ich wahren

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Wer hier in Gotteskampfe zu streiten kam

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Nun sei bedankt, mein lieber Schwan!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Heil, Konig Heinrich!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Nun hort! Euch, Volk und Edlen, mach' ich kund

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Jess Thomas, Walter Berry, Eberhard Wächter

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Mein Herr und Gott, nun ruf ich dich

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act I: Durch Gottes Sieg ist jetzt dein Leben mein

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Prelude

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Erhebe dich, Genossin meiner Schmach!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Du wilde Seherin! Wie willst du doch

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Euch Luften, die mein Klagen

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Elsa! … Wer ruft?

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Claire Watson, Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Entweihte Gotter, helft jetzt meiner Rache!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Hier, zu deinen Fussen

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Interlude

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: In Fruh'n vesammelt unds der Ruf

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Des Konigs Wort und Will' tu' ich euch kund

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Nun hort, was er durch mich euch sagen lasst

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Walter Berry, Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Gesegnet soll sie schreiten

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Zuruck, Elsa! Nicht langer will ich dulden

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Heil! Heil dem Konig!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: O Konig! Trugbetorte Fursten! Haltet ein!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Walter Berry

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Nicht dir, der so vergass der Ehren

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Mein Held, entgegne kuhn dem Ungetreuen

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act II: Elsa, erhebe dich!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Jess Thomas, Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Prelude

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Treulich gefuhrt, ziehet dahin (Wedding March)

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Das susse Lied verhallt; wir sind allein

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Jess Thomas, Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Atmest du nicht mit mir die sussen Dufte?

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Jess Thomas, Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Hochstes Vertrau'n hast du mir schon zu danken

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Jess Thomas, Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Hilf Gott, was muss ich horen!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Jess Thomas, Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Weh, nun ist all undser gluck dahin!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Jess Thomas, Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Verwandlung

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Habt Dank, ihr Lieben von Brabant!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Mein Herr und Konig

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: In fernem Land, unnahbar eu'ren Schritten

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Mein lieber Schwan!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas

Conductor: Karl Böhm
Act III: Fahr' heim! Du stolzer Helde!

Composer: Richard Wagner

Ensemble: Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper

Performer: Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Christa Ludwig

Conductor: Karl Böhm

A remarkable record of a live performance, capturing a collection of Wagner greats and a few surprises.

This disc captures, unadulterated and unadorned, the opening night of a new production of Lohengrin at the Vienna Staatsoper. One glance down the cast-list will tell you that this is something special. It must have been even more special to have been in the theatre, for not only was Karl Böhm in the pit but Wieland Wagner himself was directing the staging, something illustrated generously in the accompanying booklet. The sound, recorded for broadcast by Austrian Radio, is in mono, which is undeniably regrettable, but it’s surprisingly good for its age. The only place where it brings real losses is in the chorus scenes, which are many in this opera. The natural point of comparison for this set is Kempe’s classic set, which shares the same orchestra, the same Lohengrin and the same Ortrud, and was recorded two years previously. The comparisons are fascinating.

The most interesting contrast, and the factor which impels this release, is the conducting of Karl Böhm. Where Kempe is rapt, Böhm is driven. Like his live Ring and Tristan from Bayreuth, he prefers fast tempi, and this drives the drama along at an exciting pace. You can tell that when you compare the timings: Böhm is more than 20 minutes faster than Kempe. In fact he achieves the feat of making this one of the very few Lohengrins on disc (perhaps the only one?) to fit each act complete onto a single CD. Yet Böhm never feels unduly rushed. Instead, the strength of his vision convinces the listener that this is an entirely appropriate view of the piece. Furthermore, he knows how to relax when he needs to, and he does so liberally, particularly for the Grail music. The Act 1 Prelude is markedly slower than what follows it. He broadens out the soundscape after Lohengrin’s arrival in the middle of the act, the excitement of the crowd giving way to a gently meditative first utterance from the knight.

That first utterance is, in fact, something pretty special. Jess Thomas is on top notch form here and he sounds sensational in his farewell to the swan in the first act, as in his declaration of love for Elsa. He is, perhaps, a little anonymous in the second act, but he is moving and remarkably sympathetic in the bridal chamber scene. In fernem Land, similarly slowed down by Böhm, unfolds at an unhurried pace and in one single-minded direction. He was an extraordinary swan knight for Kempe, and it’s exciting to hear him in the live context here. Claire Watson is also on her very finest form as Elsa. There is clarity and purity to her voice that, to my ears at least, comes close to making her the equal of Elisabeth Grümmer - high praise indeed. She is helpless and vulnerable in the first act but brims over with optimism at the start of the second, and her address to the breezes is a delight. Perhaps you don’t get quite the same sense of impending doom in the bridal chamber scene, but she summons up the correct sense of terror as that scene reaches its climax and she is full of pathos in her sense of loss in the final scene.

Kempe’s set gave us the finest Ortrud on disc in Christa Ludwig, and she is every bit as sensational here. If anything, the live event inspires her to give of herself with even more commitment. The dramatic temperature of the whole set rises when she enters at the start of Act 2. There is something darkly insidious in her vocal presence, and the way she seems to pour scorn on her husband is magnificently dramatic. She then inveigles her way into Elsa’s confidence with the skill of the greatest of con artists, and the power of her invocation at Entweihte Götter! is so great that it brings the house down, forcing Böhm to halt proceedings for about twenty seconds. She then chews up the scenery in the great crowd scene at the end of Act 2 and manages a wonderful groan of defeat when the swan is revealed as Gottfried at the very end of the opera. Her husband both on and off the stage, Walter Berry, isn’t quite the match for Fischer-Dieskau either in vocal beauty or in acting - he sounds overly gruff in the first act - but he rises to a climax at the start of Act 2 and is never less than a convincing stage presence. It’s a real treat having Martti Talvela as the King, his rich, fruity bass giving the part an extra level of character that it doesn’t always get. Eberhard Wächter is luxury casting as the Herald.

I doubt that anyone will take this as a top choice, especially not over any stereo sets, because sound quality is important in this opera. However, it’s a remarkable record of a live performance, capturing a collection of Wagner greats and a few surprises, and it will be especially interesting for anyone who knows and loves the Kempe set.

Incidentally, this whole production was double cast. The other cast that alternated with this one included the likes of James King, Gustav Neidlinger and Astrid Varnay. Having not one but two such legendary casts available for one opera in the same city seems like an extravagant dream to us nowadays, but what fun to dream it!

-- Simon Thompson, MusicWeb International