Don't Listen to This Lohengrin (Ludwig and Fischer-Dieskau)

Yup! More Lohengrin.

If you listen to Christa Ludwig and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as Ortrud and Telramund in this performance of Lohengrin, you will be spoiled forever. No one else will ever live up to your expectations after hearing these master singers. They manage to sound evil without resorting to either barking or shrieking. Maybe you like your Lohengrin villains to sound nastier, but I love the way these two interpret their parts. 


I am not usually one to sigh for any bygone "golden age" of singers, Wagnerian or otherwise, but...SIGH.

I’ve been in love with Christa Ludwig since her Marschallin in the 70s. I went back to her Octavian in the 50s and then filled in the gaps, up to and including her “Old Lady” in Candide.  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau was in my consciousness before I knew it. My sister had the Zauberflöte recording with him as Papageno (it was on American Decca). He was also my first Count Almaviva in Le Nozze. Later on, he was my touchstone for anything related to German Lieder. 

Act 2 Prelude and Scene 1, part 1

Erhebe dich, genossin meiner schmach! 

Today I would consider this luxury casting, but when this recording was made, they were just the singers who sang these roles. It was recorded 1962-63, with Rudolph Kempe conducting the Chorus of the Wiener Staatsoper and the Wiener Philharmoniker, and it’s perfectly cast: Jess Thomas was a major interpreter of this role, and while Elisabeth Grümmer never became a household name, she turns in a lovely, lyrical, and touching Elsa. 

But don’t just take my word for it. In addition to praising each singer, the reviewer at Wagneropera.net says, “The reading is…wonderfully intense, and Kempe is a true Wagnerian, making both the great long lines and the details a feast for the ear." 

(Btw, the sound quality on these clips is not optimal. The CD and mp3 sound better.) 

Act 2, Scene 1, part 2

Was macht dich in so wilder klage doch vergeh'n?

Here, the argument continues; 

And Elsa wanders in:

Act 2, Scene 1, part 3

Der rache werk sei nun beschworen

This recording is worth getting to hear not only some Lieder-quality Wagner singing, but a dramatic performance. But, listen at your own peril. You may never be able to go back to barking Telramunds and shrieking Ortruds ever again. 

Oh, I can't just stop there! Ortrud sets her plan in motion; 

A beautiful soprano duet ensues:

Act 2, Scene 1, part 4

Enweihte gotter! Helft jetzt meiner rache!

And we might as well round out the scene; 

Telramund comes back to swear vengeance; 

Then we hear the beautiful Morgenlied:

Act 2, Scene 1, part 5

So zieht das unheil in dies haus!

Thanks to the person who uploaded these tracks. I think you can find the rest at YT also. Better yet, buy the CD or download the mp3s for uninterrupted (and better sounding) Wagnerian pleasure!

Wagner: Lohengrin (Great Recordings of the Century)

Jess Thomas: Lohengrin

Elisabeth Grümmer: Elsa

Christa Ludwig: Ortrud
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau: Telramund

Gottlob Frick: König Heinrich

Otto Wiener: Der Heerufer

Wiener Staatsopernchor

Wiener Philharmoniker

Rudolf Kempe