Wagner

Lohengrin

Böhm, Behrens, Randová, Becht, Meven; Hollreiser
Düsseldorf, 1977

Regular price $26.95
Select Format
Add to Wishlist Added to Wishlist

Lohengrin

Hildegard Behrens came to opera later in life, having initially pursued a career as an attorney. This delayed start was likely a blessing, as by her late thirties, her voice had matured into an instrument perfectly suited for Wagner, with a distinct purity that might have been lost if she had entered this repertoire too early.

Eva Randová delivers a dynamic and cunning Ortrud, bringing wild energy and striking vocal beauty to the role. In the title role, Karl-Walter Böhm offers a slightly muscular tone but proves he has the skill and presence to be fully convincing., though the voices are slightly distant.

Recently viewed

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Example product title

Customer Reviews

Share your experience with fellow collectors

4.0 Based on 1 review
5 ★ 0
4 ★ 1
3 ★ 0
2 ★ 0
1 ★ 0
David R.✓ Top Reviewer

United States

Overall rating

Exciting Performance in Good Sound!

This may have been a routine night at the opera house in Düsseldorf back in 1977, but hearing it now makes one long for those days. Behrens hadn't been singing professionally for very long when she sang this performance. She is a lovely, passionate Elsa with a full middle register that became thinner as time passed and she took on roles that were too heavy for her natural endowments. Böhm is probably best remembered as singing Herod in Karajan's studio recording of Salome with Behrens in the title role. His Lohengrin is strong and well-sung, his timbre even and steady. He has no difficulty with the high tessitura.Becht is a convincing Telramund and Randova an exciting Ortrud. She sings her final"Fahr heim!" with more security than many other Ortruds. Meven was one of those excellent German basses that tended to be taken for granted; he is very good here. Hollreiser makes the usual cuts, but I'm not complaining. The chorus is excellent, the orchestra good.This was recorded in-house and the voices are slightly recessed. Once the ears adjust it's not bad. Occasional snippets are missing where the original tape had to be turned over (one is towards the end of the Elsa/Ortrud scene in Act 2).For fans of the singers.
Report