Richard WAGNER (1813-1883)

Lohengrin (1850).

René Maison (tenor) Lohengrin; Kirsten Flagstad (soprano) Elsa; Karin Branzell (contralto) Ortrud; Julius Huehn (baritone) Telramund; Ludwig Hofmann (bass) King Heinrich; Arnold Gabor (tenor) Herrufer

 Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York/Maurice de Abravanel.

Includes broadcast commentaries on each act.

Rec. Metropolitan Opera House, New York on March 27th, 1937

Tolerance is required when listening here, but it is well worth it given the strength of the cast. Possibly most interesting, though, is the presence of Maurice de Abravanel at the helm. Abravanel had a three-year contract at the Met for the years 1936-38. He made his debut there with Samson et Dalila. He conducted Lohengrin there more than any other opera, a total of six times (including New Year’s Day 1937). This one comes from March 1937.

A Met broadcast, there are broadcast commentaries included on each of the three discs and these help to set the atmosphere. Not helping, though is the noise that accompanies or rather dominates the Prelude. It sounds like a piece of paper repeatedly buffeted by a fan! Underneath that and the hiss, there is a rapt, glowing Act 1 Prelude, with the New York strings exhibiting fine command in the stratosphere. In fact the orchestra is excellent pretty much throughout, and Abravanel is a superb interpreter, never losing contact with his singers and always aware of the dramatic situation.