Lohengrin

Richard Wagner (1813–1883)

DESCRIPTION

The forces at the Teatro alla Scala prove they are as at home with Wagner as they are with Verdi and Puccini. The cast assembled here features some of the finest exponents of their roles—seasoned performers alongside rising talents who would go on to make their mark.

Jess Thomas, in the title role, is heard during a brief but golden window when his voice could meet the drama head-on without losing its innate sweetness. Ingrid Bjoner brings a blend of purity and underlying strength to Elsa, her tone both luminous and firm. Astrid Varnay strikes her trademark balance between theatrical intensity and human nuance—her Ortrud is chilling but never caricatured, a villain with unsettling credibility. At the podium, Wolfgang Sawallisch draws remarkable clarity and a rich palette of orchestral colors from the ensemble.

CAST

Lohengrin – JESS THOMAS
Elsa – INGRID BJONER
König Heinrich – FRANZ CRASS
Telramund – GUSTAV NEIDLINGER
Ortrud – ASTRID VARNAY
Heerrufer – TOM KRAUSE
Vier brabantische Edle – WALTER GULLINO
Vier brabantische Edle – GIANFRANCO MANGANOTTI
Vier brabantische Edle – ALFREDO GIACOMOTTI
Vier brabantische Edle – CARLO FORTI

DETAILS

Location: Milano
Date: March 18, 1965
Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch
Catalogue Number: OD 12213-3
Label: Opera Depot
Number of Discs: 3
In Mono