Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Frieder Weissmann, Erich Leinsdorf :: Set Svanholm Sings Wagner

Svanholm -- the good old guy

Mark McCue | Denver | 05/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Man, is it ever good to have this old stuff gathered together in a clean format. Svanholm's art precluded that awful "woofy" bark that so many of his contemporaries inflicted on Wagner (and allowed the Italians to rightfully hiss productions off at the San Carlo and Massimo).Instead of that Wagnerian "bleat", another scourge, Svanholm will resort to sotto voce when he's a little tired. He was the good old guy, the artist that even when he had to cheat a little, was sure he did it in a way that was consistent with his character. And in this, Svanholm would keep his ego in check. Like Melchior, and Frieda Lieder on a good day, he knew that singers are NOT the Wagnerian stars--the orchestra and maestro are the headliners.The Rochester portions of this have notably superior sound...but not as good as they were in RCA Victrola reissue vinyl (first LM issue had vinyl acne). But if you don't want vinyl hanging around you'll be happy with this.It's good to have the old guy back."

GOOD BARITONES BECOME HELDENTENORS

Carlos James Woodward | São Paulo, Brazil | 04/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"IN THE EARLY FIFTIES BOTH RUDOLF BING AND DEZSO ERNSTER WERE KIND ENOUGH TO INVITE ME TO SEVERAL WAGNERIAN NIGHTS AT THE MET WITH SET SVANHOLM SINGING, AND I WAS DELIGHTED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE THAT NASAL BRASSY SOUND IN HIS VOICE PECULIAR TO GERMAN SARGENTS BERATING THE TROOPS. TO MY SURPRISE THEY TOLD ME THAT HIS RICHER AND ROUNDER VOICE WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE STARTED OUT AS A BARITONE !

IN FACT, HE WAS THE BARITONE IN A SWEDISH QUARTET THAT HAD JUSSI BJOERLING AS THE TENOR...

THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT MELCHIOR HAD HIS DEBUT AS A BARITONE, IN A SCANDINAVIAN TRAVIATA.

WELL, EVER SINCE WE HAVE THE WONDERFUL AND LASTING VOICE OF PLACIDO DOMINGO WHO ALSO STARTED OUT AS A BARITONE, BECAME THE TOP ITALIAN/FRENCH DRAMATIC TENOR OF THE PAST HALF-CENTURY, TO END UP AS A GOOD WAGNERIAN TENOR.

OF THE THREE, MELCHIOR, SVANHOLM AND DOMINGO, YOU MAY FIND THE VOICE OF SVANHOLM THE MOST PLEASING IF YOU ARE NOT PARTICULARLY A WAGNERIAN OPERA FAN.

CARLOS J.WOODWARD (bRAZILIAN MUSIC CRITIC)"