Wotan sing-off - 11 basses and baritones sing Wotan's Abschied

[xCountArchosX]

where's London -_-

[helius69]

So, is there a definitive answer as to which voice is better for Wotan? Bass, Bass-Baritone, Baritone?

[CelesteGabriel]

Hines has all the pride and glory in his voice a Wotan needs ( and hes a TRUE bass, not like the others)

[DemisLian]

Hotter is sublime, the best in these selections here! But Fr. Scorr was even greater, in this MET Matinee he was at the end of his career, there are better recordings of him from Europe in the early 30s. But who is really missing is the immense Rudolf Bockelmann - just find his ACT III Covent Garden 1937 live reconding with Flagstad under Furtwangler and you will understand.

[johnb340]

I am fond of James Morris' rendition. (the one in this clip is not a good example) He has a ton of power behind his voice and his emotion in Wotan's farewell gets me every time!

[BassHaritone]

Greer Grimsley is the sleeping giant amongst modern day Wotans.

[Chrysothemis]

@BassHaritone Amen to that. Mr Grimsley was absolutely astounding in the 2009 Seattle cycle.

[juldir]

Hotter, Tomlinson, Adam and Pape! Juha Uusitalo is missing and he should be in this list. He is The vocalwonder.

[reviewsvoiceontube]

Yes. Terfel gave a remarkable performance of this in Lucerne with Abbado-even though he is not a high bass as demanded he has all qualities to shine in this-as he did. You may also like to listen to american bariton Tibbett here on youtube-very large, firm and ringing voice with Wotans farewell. And believe it or not the great Siepi sang this, too. Still- nobody holds a candle to George London in this one.

[jawj80]

Where is Bryn's Wotan?

[reviewsvoiceontube]

Your playlist given I have to vote for Hines-his voice has nobless and sonority and adequate strength and authority. Hotter is close second. Pape`s voice is basically well-suited for Wotan- an elegant bass not on the heavy side and with good dynamic range, but i feel he lacks a bit of force here. But of course, as mentioned by others and rightly so, the unsurpassed singer in that role is missing here-George London.

[rick1walter]

Of the also-rans, Dieskau never sang it live, London barely had a chance before his health problems set in. Of those who sang it long and well, I pick Hotter for his monumentality and overall mastery; Stewart for intensity, imaginative detail, and surprising ferocity; Adam for all-round professionalism and reliability; and Tomlinson for his cavernous sound and rascally humor. The one contemporary who DOES belong here is Uusitalo - for handsome, comprehensive, consistently cultivated vocalism.

[AlberichNibelungo]

Por cierto: René Pape es un interesantísimo Wotan. Ya veremos cuando lo debute en el teatro. Quizá estemos ante el gran "dios" de los próximos años... El tiempo lo dirá.

[AlberichNibelungo]

Faltan, precisamente, mis dos Wotan favoritos: Ferdinand Frantz y George London.

[rourke17]

Greer Grimsley should be on this list! But Hotter and Tomlinson are favorites here.

[Nibelungenherr1876]

Hotter is THE Wotan.

[niallguinan]

Where is Ferdinand Frantz?

[srg2457]

I think that if Wotan is a "Heldenbass", I'd go for John Tomlinson and Donald McIntyre.

[dubitz11]

Thanks. Great work. Expression-wise: Hines, Hotter, Tomlinson  Voice-wise: Tomlinson, Hines, Hotter (IMHO)

Pity George London and Fischer-Dieskau are missing. London had by far the greatest voice of all Wotans. Dieskau had incomparable technique, diction and expressiveness.

[dearmalika]

Amazing and beautiful!Thanks so much for posting this!

[HeavyOpera1]

Well, Theo Adam was the first Wotan I ever heard, so I always have a soft spot for him, but this rendition is not too strong. Hans Hotter is the strongest of this pack. Hines was a pleasant surprise, I must say. Sigmund Nimsgern....a good voice, yes, but Wotan? I'm not a buyer

[PEAinSwe]

For me this is a "win" for Hotter. With Tomlinson as a close second. And Morris and Dohmen absolutely last.....

Too sad to hear that the otherwise superb Pape isn't at all comfortable in this part....

[GALLSTONER]

Hans Hotter and Theo Adam for me.

[mwoodward221]

Hines, then Hotter, then Tomlinson---However you did not include the version of one of the greatest baritones ever, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. I've got recordings of all four of these men and I think Dieskau would edge-out Hotter and very possibly Hines. Very fun listening!

[robertthebrook]

@mwoodward221 Is there a recording of Fischer-Dieskau singing the Walkure Wotan? If so, would love to hear it.

[mwoodward221]

@robertthebrook I have the Angel Records LP entitled, "Fischer-Dieskau Sings Wagner (label #S-37487) In the recording, Dieskau sings Wotan's Farewell as well as Parsifal-Amfortas' Two Scenes and Die Frist ist um from Die Fliegende Hollander. NOW I have searched the internet for some recording or even a reference to this LP and can find nothing! Apparently I have something rare. I would not know how to get a recording to you. I must see what I can do.

[JefRoberts]

@negzago - That recording is indeed riveting, warts and all - that includes Bockelmann's (and Maria Mueller's, too, if I am not mistaken) political connections. I cannot help but wonder about the politics of any singers during those years - unless like Lehmann they make them abundantly clear.

[singingisall]

There are better recordings of Theo Adams Wotan than this. Try the recording with Marek Janowski and the Staatskapelle Dresden.

And of Hans Hotter as well... Solti Ring....

[filoll]

Is not the conductor of Bayreuth 1995 D. Barenboim?

[Shogunmiyuchan]

@filoll no, Daniel Barenboim conducted the Ring Cycle at Bayreuth from 1988-1991; that was when the Harry Kupfer Production was there.

[90lysander]

Hotter and Morris are favorites of mine, but I've heard both of them sing this better, ESPECIALLY Morris. (Was he ill?) Love the sound of Hines' and Tomlinson's voices, and Pape has a lot of promise. Adam and Stewart both fine as well.

[nordeiche]

Theo Adam is my best Wotan

2.Morris verry great

3.Hotter

[paddyswok]

Vitalij Kowaljow is the Wotan of today, and will go down as the Wotan of all time, with London. I guarantee it. Just wait to you hear him!! When he sang the words ''Leb wohl'' in LA last year I remember thinking it was the best sound I had ever hear a human being produce. And he maintained it throughout. It was breathtaking singing, old school meets new.

[wekunz]

Looking forward to Rene Pape's performances under Barenboim! What a personality!

[barren2]

proof positive Wotan's boots are nearly impossible to fill. Why such a strained post of the great Morris?! London?!

[barren2]

proof positive Wotan's boots are nearly impossible to fill: why this strained Morris post when he has done it so wonderfully? London omission?!

[LoudFast1234]

tomlinson all day!

[AgamemnonAtreides]

No George London? No Ferdinand Frantz?

[antigonosphilos]

My favorite is Geroge London with Hans Knappertsbusch conducted VPO.

[ivanjuarezmex]

1- HOTTER

2- TOMLINSON

3- HINES

[karshook]

Hey, this is foul play. Had you posted James Morris singing under Haitink's baton in 1988, he would have made the others seem poor mortals.

[TheBestOfGobbi]

In my opinion:

Dohmen, McIntyre, Adam.

[nog55]

Hotter @ Tomlinson are superb.I agree with heizukovsky, where is George London? One of the great voices, a serious omission.

[heizukowsky]

Where's George London?

[kiipija]

check out Juha Uusitalos video

[Sinfoniette]

Hotter and Hines. I never respected Pape too much but I really like his rendition here.

[JefRoberts]

Wonderful! Hotter and Tomlinson are the winners for me. I love Stewart for his tenderness, Hines for his voice, too. There are better recordings of Schorr, but he still has lots of authority even without the top notes. Some other omissions not mentioned elsewhere are Rudolf Bockelmann and Hans Hermann Nissen. I love Bockelmann with Furtwangler from Covent Garden in 1937. Even with dodgy sound, lots of authority and a grand performance.

[javertim]

@JefRoberts I was going to write almost the same as you did! Thanks for saving me the time. ;-)

[negzago]

@JefRoberts I know this has little to do with the singing per se but though Bockelmann is indeed great, his siding with the Nazi spoils the awe I get listening to that recording imho. My first live Furtwangler's Wagner recording was that one, absolutely riveting, in spite of of horrendous flaws in the recordings.

[TheWisemonkey8]

LOVE THIS!!! Great video!

[TheWisemonkey8]

My God Hotter!

[saphirereflection]

I have to say Rene Pape is by far the best out of the singers in this.

[SchwarzBass]

Wow interesting, I put him in my bottom 3. Better than Hines? That voice was born to sing Wotan.

[kronos77]

Schorr gets the shaft in this contest. There are better recordings of him on Youtube. The audio quality is horrible here. He was second only to Frantz in my opinion.

[saiserieht]

Tomlinson has some of the greatest material of any singer ever. HIs technique for his high notes is sub optimal though, he could be absolutely godly.

[stevevandien]

My favorites are Hines, Tomlinson, Pape and Hotter. Adam, Stewart, McIntyre are also quite good. Morris is the best Wotan of the past quarter-century, but I've heard him sing the "Abscheid" much better and more recently. Schorr, a great Wotan, was past his prime; his high notes are thin and strained. Hines is the best Wotan here. His voice is freer and richer than those of the others. I'd add the renditions of George London, Simon Estes and Lawrence Tibbett --

[TUMuenchen]

Hans Hutter is just breathtaking...

[TUMuenchen]

Sorry Hotter, of course.

[19BAYREUTH90]

Thanks for this great compilation and THANK YOU for ending up with Christian Thielemann and the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. As for the conducting my favorites are: (1) Thielemann (2) Lorin Maazel (3) Leinsdorf - and even Peter Schneider doesn´t sound boring in this particular performance.

@ rexeterna: why don´t you start an Isolde sing-off with the last part of the Liebestod???

[kaatflaap]

Hotter is incomparable but it was nice to hear how beautifully Hines sang the phrase. JT is the best of the recent offerings, but it would have been nice to hear Norman Bailey who was a fine Wotan and I would now heartily recommend Greer Grimsley, the recent Seattle Wotan, who sings with god-like quality and touches the heart.

Hotter, who I was lucky enough to study with, had it all--a voice of Olympian grandeur allied to a profundity of textual interpretation and heart- felt human empathy. NO1

[fbsv]

Nice Compilation, thanks. In my opinion the most impressive version of that magnificent phrase from the end of Walküre is by George London, it's beyond belief really (with equally impressive accompaniment by Knappertsbusch and the Vienna Philharmonic). Perhaps someone can post at some point.

[nog55]

Hotter at his peak must be near the top of most peoples list.London, although not on this list, also v. good.

[kronos77]

Yes, Ferdinand Frantz needs to be added. He is my all time favorite.

[65attila]

Thank you for this compilation. My dream Wotans include Nazzareno de Angelis and Lawrence Tibbett.

John

[lichtalberich]

Lots of fine Wotans but I think Jerry HInes was potentially the finest. He gave up doing the role early on because he felt it was a little high and was a little too taxing for the long haul. Where is Ferdinand Frantz? Hans Sotin?

[ulfur612]

Interesting compilation, but what about Simon Estes?

[billyguns2]

FAscinating! Donald McIntyre wins on all counts: Fabulous technique, majesty of utterance, great voice ease of projection, flawless legato and a final note that sounds as easy as child's play. Pape shows a great voice, Stewart highly musical as always, and Hotter always worth hearing; the real surprise was the magnificent conducting of Alan Gilbert, the new NY Phil Maestro!

[IchiTheRipper]

McIntyre IS Wotan!

[primobaritono]

Thank you for the interesting comparison! May I inquire as to why you left out the two greatest renditions of this line, those from Lawrence Tibbett and George London?

[rexeterna]

pretty simple, tibbett never sang wotan live as far as I know. it's more interesting to compare them after singing for the entire time than in a selection.

[primobaritono]

Thanks for the reply. I understand completely. I know London sang Wotan live, but the only recording of him is in studio.

[rexeterna]

by which of course I mean Tibbett never sang Wotan live in its ENTIRETY. I'm aware of his doing it in concert (the whole abschied at least), but singing all of Act 2 and 3 is much more demanding than singing the last ten minutes.  It's just the purist in me...

[HuninMunin]

In addition I have to say that I never quite understood the James Morris phenomenon.

To me he just sounds hollow ( and without the lyrical qualities that Adam has despite his slightly "narrow" sound ). On top of that his accent is terrible. Not that an accent is bad per se - Stewart has a slight one aswell - but Morris just sounds amateurish.

[ilFactotum]

Hehe, I know were you're coming from; Morris has never had a beautfiul sound, though admittedly, for some reason, I like his singing. Nevertheless, Tomlinson also takes the cake for me, even though I consider Hotter legendary. Sir John actually sounds like a god when singing this, even with such a high tessitura; and he's not even a bass-baritone but a true bass.

[HuninMunin]

Among all those greats finaly I came to love two Wotans especialy.

Surprisingly - or not surprisingly - they are the two that for me carry the most dramatic interpretation into the roles. Looks like loud or beautifull singing comes second for me.

Stewart and Tomlinson both here and in the respective full rings ( Karajan and Barenboim/Kupfer ) are the greatest of the 20th century to me.

[Spiritakis]

Pity my favourite is not included - Boris Christoff live in concert with RAI Torino orchestra and Alfredo Simonetto, 1954.

Anyway, great compilation of voices. And this line together with powerful orchestra afterwards is certainly one of the greatest opera moments ever composed.

Thomas Steward wins my heart from all listed here. Perhaps because I love his performance in the studio recording of Karajan and this live performance is by no means worse, if not better actually.

Thanks for posting.

[cdgray2]

Hotter, hands down, tho' Hines did surprise.

[vstasov]

Fantastic video! Thank you.

Schorr always sounded tired out by the end of these live performances. He had lost his high notes by the 1930s.

James Morris actually sounds more beautiful live than he does recorded.

Thomas Stewart was a fine Wotan and immortal Sachs. In my opinion, Hotter was the greatest of them all, and he's in magnificent form here in 1955.

Ferdinand Frantz was also a wonderful Wotan and Sachs.

[wotansschwert]

nice..but you could have left out Nimsgern and Schorr, who SUCKED and put in Ferdinand Frantz and Norman Bailey :)

[ilFactotum]

I think Schorr sounds awful mostly because of the sound quality, he's known to have been great; however, wher indeed are Frantz and Bailey? And George London, and Alan Titus? Heck, even more recent ones like Falk Struckmann, Juha Uusitalo, and Vitalij Kowaljow!

[eccodandini]

dude... you must be kidding. kowaljow and uusitalo? those guys suck! just because you CAN sing wotan doesn't mean you're a GREAT wotan. struckmann admittedly is pretty good but uusitalo... come on man.

[a5800102waku]

Richard Wagner ist grandios !

[eccodandini]

nice vid

1. adam

2. hines

3. tomlinson (bit of a surprise)