German Heroic Tenor Max Lorenz ~ Am stillen herd (1930)

German heroic tenor Max Lorenz (1901-1975) / Am stillen herd / Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner) / Recorded: 1930 --


Max Lorenz (born Max Sülzenfuß, May 10, 1901 in Düsseldorf -- died January 11, 1975 in Salzburg) was a German heroic tenor famous for singing Wagner roles.

Lorenz studied with Ernst Grenzebach in Berlin in the 1920s. He made his debut at the Semperoper in Dresden in 1927, becoming a principal tenor. From 1929 to 1944 he was a member of the ensemble at the Berlin State Opera, appearing also at the New York Metropolitan Opera (193134), the Bayreuth Festspielhaus (193339, 1952, 1954) and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (1934 and 1937). He sang, too, at the Vienna State Opera (192933, 193644, 1954). Audiences at the Salzburg Festival also heard him sing, and he created roles in such post-World War II works as Gottfried von Einems Der Prozess (Josef K, 1953), Rolf Liebermanns Penelope (1954) and Rudolf Wagner-Régenys Das Bergwerk zu Falun (1961).

Lorenz's operatic and recital career lasted almost three decades. He became known as one of the world's leading heldentenors, renowned for his performances as Tristan, Siegfried and Walther in particular. He was also a notable Otello, Bacchus and Herod. At his best in the 1920s and 1930s, Lorenz possessed a powerful, ringing voice which he used in an impassioned manner. Some of his recordings of operatic arias have been issued on CD. Notably, he was recorded live in a performance of Die Meistersinger at the Bayreuth Festival, under the baton of the celebrated conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler.

Lorenz was homosexual, but from 1932 he was married to Charlotte (Lotte) Appel, who was Jewish and was aware of his homosexuality. His homosexuality was almost tolerated by the Nazis as a well-known secret. When Lorenz had to appear in court because of an affair with a young man, Hitler advised Winifred Wagner, the director of the Bayreuth Festival, that Lorenz would not be suitable for the Festival. Wagner answered that in that case she might close the Festival because, without Lorenz, "Bayreuth can't be done." As for his Jewish wife, Lorenz insisted on being open about his marriage, which was taken as a provocation by the Nazis. When Lorenz was away from his house, the SS burst in and tried to take his wife and mother-in-law away. At the last moment they were prevented from doing so when Lotte Lorenz was able to make a phone call to the sister of Hermann Göring. The SS was ordered to leave their residence and not to bother the two women. Göring stated in a letter of March 21, 1943 that Lorenz was under his personal protection and that no action should be taken against him, his wife, or her mother. (wikipedia)

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• German
• Heroic
• Tenor
• Max
• Lorenz
• Opera
• Wagner
• Meistersinger
• 78RPM
• CurzonRoad

[dantitustimshu]

In his review of the Vienna State Opera Live series on Koch Schwann in OPERA QUARTERLY (Autumn 1997), Roger Pines critized Lorenz quite severely for being erratic and uneven. Perhaps he doesn't quite have the final word on vocal elegance and finish as do Melchior and Völker, but there is nevertheless something thrilling and impassioned about his singing that makes him a frontrunner among heldentenors. Many thanks for sharing this.

[CurzonRoad]

@dantitustimshu

Hi Tim: Years ago this recording was was my introduction to Am stillen Herd, and it continues to be a solid, golden favorite. Yes, thrilling it was and thrilling it remains! Thank YOU!

[tenorschofield]

So open throat and still very well in the mask,wow, what a voice and what a singer!!!

Recently I was trying to aboard the "wagnerian" repertoire. And loved Melchior, Thomas and now this great tenor Max Lorenz (he still keeps a good dose of "lyric" in his singing...even if sounding so heroic to, isn´t it so?). I am in my mid 40's, so think can still aboard this roles. Please watch my recent youtube videos and give me your advice.Thank you in advance.

40's so I think I can still

[MrGer2295]

BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE!!! Thank you Sir Doug for sharing this video.

[vstasov]

I love young Max Lorenz - so buoyant and exuberant - and a beautiful, heroic voice. Thank you very much!

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, incredible perfrmance. Thank you. Maya

[voltape]

@tenorschofield 40??? Bah! no te preocupes - yo tengo 75 y todavia me da por cantar a veces. Un buen cebiche con bastante ajo ayuda a aclarar la garganta. Solo que no te metas despues a cantar un duetto d'amore, que la soprano te va a mandar a .... Oye, y cuando te presentas de nuevo en Lima? No te veo desde Il Trovatore!

[Kievest]

A clarion voice of sublime sensitivity,

musicality and monumental heroism.

Thank you, Doug, for sharing this fine

recording!

[AulicExclusiva]

The passion and heroic alacrity with which he sings are quite memorable. Around the time that he returned to the Metropolitan opera (1947-1950) he also appeared in several radio performances of Tristan which have been preserved and confirm that he was one of the greatest interpreters of that part.

He was a true tenor, not a pushed-up baritone, and sings Walther's solos with real bite, not just desperation, as we often hear them nowadays. Great disk. Thanks Doug.

[fairlytaleofnewyork]

How wonderful! What a fabulous singing and voice!

Daug, thank you very much for posting this treasure.

Best regards

Satoko

[genia106]

Douglasio Mein Liebling,

Max is Magnificent!

I LOVE IT! Dankeschoe..