The Best Tannhäuser Ever...Max Lorenz - 1942 - PART I

[jhb134]

@2ManyHighCs - Not bad, and entirely, in-character. If we're talking about the GREATEST Tannhauser, ever .... then, it must be Melchior.

[paulostroff99]

Awesome.TY max lorenz 24 for posting

[alexpenncy]

Surely he sold his soul to the Devil for the luxury of such an infinite voice.

[AfroPoli]

This probably IS the best Tannhäuser on record. A pity that they did not record the entire opera.

[xav71176]

and who sings Biterolf ?

[xav71176]

but who sings Walther ?

[maxlorenz24]

Info edited.

Thanks.

[pelagohippos]

Many thanks for edit !!! ;o)

[maxlorenz24]

An explanation is due: I use Linux at home but I don't know how to post from Linux so I use to post from work, on a hurry, from memory or with few notes, then I forget or don't have time to improve the info. Sorry.

[Boratti]

Not my kind of Voice..this terrible RRRRRR is disgusting.

[amonasro100]

This is simply wonderful- there is no one today who can sing like this.

[discovolante21]

Great singing and diction.

[TheBadbury]

Also Schmitt-Walter is utterly splendid!

[maxlorenz24]

Yes. So many great singers in that era.

Please check out European archive's site: it has many opera recordings from that period. I found "my" own Meistersinger, complete on vinyl rip.

Also, a Tristan with Lorenz and Flagstad from 1948, only excerpts, I am afraid.

[TheBadbury]

Honestly, at first I didn't like his voice but now I love it. It must sound fantastic if it will be remastered. Thank you for sharing it with the group!

[maxlorenz24]

I'm glad you like it.

Imagine how his voice must have been in live performances. So attractive his timbre...so warm his singing...

[robertwbecker]

Yes, a Great Wagerian, more people need to know about him! Thanks for this post, it's Grealy appreciated!

[wagnerianman]

I saw this production live in vienna in 2000 or 2001 july, conducted by leopold hager and with Halvarson and Bo skovhus, so nice production! thanks

[maxlorenz24]

He, he...

A little more respect, please, gentleman.

I know for sure he is following this conversation :-O

[wotanwag]

Amazing!

I like Max very much! He's GREAT!

[LauritzMelchior]

Muchísimas gracias es verdaderamente maravilloso disfrutar un manjar así.

[maxlorenz24]

De nada, Lauritz.

[LauritzMelchior]

Soy sólo yo el que opina que antes había mejores cantantes o es simplemente nostalgia por el pasado.

Por cierto Max Lorenz, Wolfgang Windgassen y Lauritz Melchior resultan mi referencia absoluta como Tannhäuser, por encima de cualquier otro incluso de gigantes como Ludwig Suthaus y Ramón Vinay, a este último nunca le he tomado mucho interés. Y ya que estoy entrado en el tema lo que daría por haber escuchado un Tannhäuser completo con Leo Slezak.

[tantris39]

Where can one find this complete Tannhäuser with Lorenz and Reining?? I know it exists, but seems not to be available today....

[maxlorenz24]

These were bonus tracks from a Myto Records (can I write that?) Tannhauser album starring Melchior, Varnay (Met 1948). I can't find it complete.

[19BAYREUTH90]

Actually I am not a true Tannhäuser fan but Max Lorenz disabused me. This must be what Wagner meant by it. Why is there no comparable voice today?

[maxlorenz24]

I have had this experience many times, underestimating a work until I heard a really good performance with really good artists...blame to the "three tenors" :-(

Why there is no voice alike today?I believe for a combination of things (which can be guessed by reading to Max Lorenz's, or any other great artist, critics): lack of good teachers; academic singing; lack of passion; lack of self-criticism; lack of courage...

[metphmet]

He is Tannhauser like Callas is Tosca.Such artists (they are not only fantastic singers) are so rare.That's why we are fascinated.

What is always special if you carefully hear them is that they sing all the notes with teh same comitment which requires a lot even from the audience

[Johnny1206]

His is the most beautiful heldentenor voice!

[maxlorenz24]

Yeah! I was about to ask the same...what is an homosexual tone and how do I get it??? :-D

[negzago]

The opera world is not free from homophobia it seems.However I would like to comment on what you wrote to me about Melchior's one dimensional approach. I must say I disagree, I feel Melchior's Siegmund, Tristan, or Tannhauser are different from each other. There is undoutedly nuance and intelligence in Melchior's approach, but I do agree that with Tannhauser Lorenz provides us with a more fiery, more daring approach. But only in that role to my ears I am afraid.

[baritenor81]

i don't have anything against homosexuality- on the contrary... but the tone is really homosexual! :-))) "homosexual" is a normal adjective- it is you, negzago, who is taking it in a bad way...

[albertthrelkeld]

What is a homosexual tone?

[mariusfelix]

Not only the best Tannhäuser ever, but also best Tristan and Siegfried! Thanks for posting!

[maxlorenz24]

You're welcome.

I'll try to post the rest tomorrow...

Now that I know how, I will post the best of my collection and also some Pertile and other great tenors of the past.