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

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

$37.99

Details

Composer
WAGNER, RICHARD
Artist
Talvela, Thomas, Watson, Berry, Ludwig, Waechter, Equiluz, Sperlbauer, Lackner, Pantscheff
Format
CD
Label
Orfeo
Released
Jun 25, 2013
Catalog #
ORF-C862133D
UPC
4011790862323

About



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

Tracklist 44 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Act I: Prelude 10:01
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I: Prelude
    Duration
    10:01
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  3. 2 Act I: Hort! Grafen, Edle, Freie von Brabant! 04:19
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I: Hort! Grafen, Edle, Freie von Brabant!
    Duration
    04:19
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  4. 3 Act I: Dank, Konig, dir, dass du zu richten kamst! 06:30
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I: Dank, Konig, dir, dass du zu richten kamst!
    Duration
    06:30
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Walter Berry, Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  5. 4 Act I: Seht ihn! Sie naht, die hart Beklagte! 03:16
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I: Seht ihn! Sie naht, die hart Beklagte!
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  6. 5 Act I: Einsam in truben Tagen hab' ich zu Gott gefleht 05:17
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I: Einsam in truben Tagen hab' ich zu Gott gefleht
    Duration
    05:17
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  7. 6 Act I: Gott allein soll jezt in dieser Sache noch entscheiden! 01:48
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I: Gott allein soll jezt in dieser Sache noch entscheiden!
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  8. 7 Act I: Des Ritters will ich wahren 02:04
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I: Des Ritters will ich wahren
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  9. 8 Act I: Wer hier in Gotteskampfe zu streiten kam 05:37
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I: Wer hier in Gotteskampfe zu streiten kam
    Duration
    05:37
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  10. 9 Act I: Nun sei bedankt, mein lieber Schwan! 02:19
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I: Nun sei bedankt, mein lieber Schwan!
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  11. 10 Act I: Heil, Konig Heinrich! 07:08
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I: Heil, Konig Heinrich!
    Duration
    07:08
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  12. 11 Act I: Nun hort! Euch, Volk und Edlen, mach' ich kund 04:30
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act I: Nun hort! Euch, Volk und Edlen, mach' ich kund
    Duration
    04:30
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Jess Thomas, Walter Berry, Eberhard Wächter
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  13. 12 Act I: Mein Herr und Gott, nun ruf ich dich 04:25
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act I: Mein Herr und Gott, nun ruf ich dich
    Duration
    04:25
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  14. 13 Act I: Durch Gottes Sieg ist jetzt dein Leben mein 04:36
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act I: Durch Gottes Sieg ist jetzt dein Leben mein
    Duration
    04:36
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  15. Disc 2
  16. 1 Act II: Prelude 03:25
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act II: Prelude
    Duration
    03:25
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  17. 2 Act II: Erhebe dich, Genossin meiner Schmach! 07:40
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act II: Erhebe dich, Genossin meiner Schmach!
    Duration
    07:40
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  18. 3 Act II: Du wilde Seherin! Wie willst du doch 06:30
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act II: Du wilde Seherin! Wie willst du doch
    Duration
    06:30
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  19. 4 Act II: Euch Luften, die mein Klagen 03:26
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II: Euch Luften, die mein Klagen
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  20. 5 Act II: Elsa! … Wer ruft? 03:55
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II: Elsa! … Wer ruft?
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Claire Watson, Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  21. 6 Act II: Entweihte Gotter, helft jetzt meiner Rache! 01:41
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II: Entweihte Gotter, helft jetzt meiner Rache!
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  22. 7 Act II: Hier, zu deinen Fussen 09:24
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II: Hier, zu deinen Fussen
    Duration
    09:24
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  23. 8 Interlude 02:26
    Track
    8
    Title
    Interlude
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  24. 9 Act II: In Fruh'n vesammelt unds der Ruf 01:26
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II: In Fruh'n vesammelt unds der Ruf
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  25. 10 Act II: Des Konigs Wort und Will' tu' ich euch kund 02:55
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II: Des Konigs Wort und Will' tu' ich euch kund
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  26. 11 Act II: Nun hort, was er durch mich euch sagen lasst 03:55
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act II: Nun hort, was er durch mich euch sagen lasst
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Walter Berry, Eberhard Wächter, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  27. 12 Act II: Gesegnet soll sie schreiten 04:48
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II: Gesegnet soll sie schreiten
    Duration
    04:48
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  28. 13 Act II: Zuruck, Elsa! Nicht langer will ich dulden 05:12
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II: Zuruck, Elsa! Nicht langer will ich dulden
    Duration
    05:12
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  29. 14 Act II: Heil! Heil dem Konig! 03:04
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II: Heil! Heil dem Konig!
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  30. 15 Act II: O Konig! Trugbetorte Fursten! Haltet ein! 03:10
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II: O Konig! Trugbetorte Fursten! Haltet ein!
    Duration
    03:10
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Walter Berry
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  31. 16 Act II: Nicht dir, der so vergass der Ehren 06:04
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act II: Nicht dir, der so vergass der Ehren
    Duration
    06:04
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry, Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  32. 17 Act II: Mein Held, entgegne kuhn dem Ungetreuen 01:45
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act II: Mein Held, entgegne kuhn dem Ungetreuen
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Walter Berry
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  33. 18 Act II: Elsa, erhebe dich! 05:17
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act II: Elsa, erhebe dich!
    Duration
    05:17
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Jess Thomas, Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  34. Disc 3
  35. 1 Act III: Prelude 03:05
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act III: Prelude
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  36. 2 Act III: Treulich gefuhrt, ziehet dahin (Wedding March) 04:23
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act III: Treulich gefuhrt, ziehet dahin (Wedding March)
    Duration
    04:23
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  37. 3 Act III: Das susse Lied verhallt; wir sind allein 06:38
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act III: Das susse Lied verhallt; wir sind allein
    Duration
    06:38
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Jess Thomas, Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  38. 4 Act III: Atmest du nicht mit mir die sussen Dufte? 04:31
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act III: Atmest du nicht mit mir die sussen Dufte?
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Jess Thomas, Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  39. 5 Act III: Hochstes Vertrau'n hast du mir schon zu danken 03:44
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act III: Hochstes Vertrau'n hast du mir schon zu danken
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Jess Thomas, Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  40. 6 Act III: Hilf Gott, was muss ich horen! 03:18
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act III: Hilf Gott, was muss ich horen!
    Duration
    03:18
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Jess Thomas, Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  41. 7 Act III: Weh, nun ist all undser gluck dahin! 04:32
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act III: Weh, nun ist all undser gluck dahin!
    Duration
    04:32
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Jess Thomas, Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  42. 8 Act III: Verwandlung 03:16
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act III: Verwandlung
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  43. 9 Act III: Habt Dank, ihr Lieben von Brabant! 04:08
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act III: Habt Dank, ihr Lieben von Brabant!
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  44. 10 Act III: Mein Herr und Konig 04:28
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act III: Mein Herr und Konig
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Kurt Equiluz, Fritz Sperlbauer, Herbert Lackner, Ljubomir Pantscheff
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  45. 11 Act III: In fernem Land, unnahbar eu'ren Schritten 06:40
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act III: In fernem Land, unnahbar eu'ren Schritten
    Duration
    06:40
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  46. 12 Act III: Mein lieber Schwan! 03:47
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act III: Mein lieber Schwan!
    Duration
    03:47
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm
  47. 13 Act III: Fahr' heim! Du stolzer Helde! 03:59
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act III: Fahr' heim! Du stolzer Helde!
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Richard Wagner
    Performer
    Martti Talvela, Jess Thomas, Claire Watson, Christa Ludwig
    Ensemble
    Chor der Wiener Staatsoper, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
    Conductor
    Karl Böhm