Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Artur Rother, Ferdinand Leitner :: Max Lorenz sings Richard Wagner

Underrated tenor in heroic roles.

Alan Montgomery | Oberlin, Oh USA | 02/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Max Lorenz ruled the stage in Europe in the heroic roles of Wagner while Lauritz Melchior sang in the U.S. and Britain. Lorenz is no less authoritative an interpreter, and many may value his brighter "ping" over the baritonal Melchior. In this CD he sings 4 scenes from three of his greatest roles. The Siegfried Duet is first rate. At the beginning Lorenz seems a little tight, but he warms up to the task quite well. Helena Braun, relatively unknown over here in America, was Mrs. Ferdinand Frantz (Furtwangler's favorite Wotan), and she appears with him as Ortrud on the Fehenberger Lohengrin. Here she is warm and winning, although she doesn't erase memories of the greatest. Her high C is a little precarious, but is still strongly there. The Dawn Duet from Gotterdammerung is much better. The Siegfried narrative ends just before the section where he dies. This leaves plenty of room for the Tristan and Isolde duet (begun, as usual, at "O sink hernieder.") Christel Goltz is soprano here, and the two, led here by Leitner, give as passionate a rendition of this challenging duet as anyone could want. It sweeps you along and does not let loose until the final dissonance. The sound is more than serviceable. It may not be digitally recorded, but it gleams with real music making. Highly recommended to all Wagner lovers."