Search - Ferdinand Frantz, Hans Braun, Richard [Classical] Wagner :: Wagner: Lohengrin

Singing in an old tradition

Alan Montgomery | Oberlin, Oh USA | 04/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The LP version of this opera was about the 3rd opera I ever owned complete. The old American Decca pressings were fine, except that they were heavily monitored. The end of the prelude suddenly fell back and almost vanished. That is corrected here, thank heavens.

Jochum conducts a judicious account of the score, although it does not carry great punch. Still his unfolding of such moments as Elsa's procession to the wedding are ideal. The cuts he sanctions are not. The most damaging cut is the one that leaps from shortly after the end of "In fernem Land" almost directly to the "Leb'wohl."

Fehenberger is a lyric Lohengrin, and some won't like that, but I've always loved the pleading in his voice during the wedding scene. Annelies Kupper was a respected lyric soprano of the time, and recorded Senta in addition to her Elsa. When not asked for too much force, she is really quite winning. Helena Braun and her husband Ferdinand Frantz are, to my ears, almost ideal as Ortrud and Telramund. Her duet with Elsa is gorgeous. His bitter outburst near the beginning of Act Two is what Wagner singing should all be about. There is a reason Furtwangler loved this man's Wotan. The others are okay.

The 4 stars are due to the cuts and somewhat dated sound. But still, it is a good second recording. I'm glad to have it back in the catalogue. I'm also glad not to have to change sides right after the bridal chorus as was necessary on the LP pressings (it was later on DGG)."