Editorial Review:

Amazon.com essential recording:
This celebrated 1964 recording of Lohengrin with Rudolf Kempe and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra still stands the test of time: it's a terrifically exciting performance. Kempe is a superb draftsman, and he keeps the orchestra lively, exuberant, but never strident. Pride of place must be given to the soloists: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is a riveting Friedrich, Jess Thomas a dynamic Lohengrin, and Elisabeth Grummer a most moving Elsa. --Joshua Cody









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Disc 1:

1. Prld - VPO/Rudolf Kempe
2. Act One, Scene One: Hort! Grafen, Edle, Freie Von Brabant! - Otto Wiener/Chor of the Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick
3. Act One, Scene One: Dank, Konig, Dir, Dass Du Zu Richten Kamst! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
4. Act One, Scene One: Welch Furchterliche Klage Sprichst Du Aus! - Gottlob Frick/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Otto Wiener/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
5. Act One, Scene Two: Seht Hin! Sie Naht, Die Hart Beklagte! - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick/Elisabeth Grummer
6. Act One, Scene Two: Einsam In Truben Tagen - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick/Elisabeth Grummer
7. Act One, Scene Two: Friedrich, Du Ehrenwerter Mann - Gottlob Frick/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer...
8. Act One, Scene Two: Des Ritters Will Ich Wahren - Elisabeth Grummer/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick
9. Act One, Scene Two: Wer Hier Im Gotteskampf Zu Streiten Kam/Scene Three: Gegrusst! Sei Gegrusst... - Otto Wiener/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau...
10. Act One, Scene Three: Nun Sei Bedankt, Mein Lieber Schwan! - Jess Thomas/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
11. Act One, Scene Three: Heil, Konig Heinrich! - Jess Thomas/Gottlob Frick/Elisabeth Grummer
12. Act One, Scene Three: Wenn Ich Im Kampfe Fur Dich Siege - Jess Thomas/Elisabeth Grummer/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
13. Act One, Scene Three: Nun Hort! Euch, Volk Und Edlen, Mach' Ich Kund - Jess Thomas/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Gottlob Frick
14. Act One, Scene Three: Nun Horet Mich Und Achtet Wohl - Otto Wiener/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Jess Thomas/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
15. Act One, Scene Three: Mein Herr Und Gott, Nun Ruf' Ich Dich - Gottlob Frick/Elisabeth Grummer/Jess Thomas/Christa Ludwig/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau...
16. Act One, Scene Three: Durch Gottes Sieg Ist Jetzt Dein Leben Mein - Jess Thomas/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick/Elisabeth Grummer...
17. Act Two, Scene One: Intro - VPO/Rudolf Kempe
18. Act Two, Scene One: Erhebe Dich, Genossin Meiner Schmach! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Christa Ludwig

Disc 2:

1. Act Two, Scene One: Was Macht Dich In So Wilder Klage Doch Vergehn? - Christa Ludwig/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
2. Act Two, Scene One: Du Wilde Seherin! Wie Willst Du Doch - Christa Ludwig/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
3. Act Two, Scene One: Der Rache Werk Sei Nun Beschworen - Christa Ludwig/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
4. Act Two, Scene Two: Euch Luften, Die Mein Klagen - Elisabeth Grummer/Christa Ludwig/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
5. Act Two, Scene Two: Elsa!... Wer Ruft? - Christa Ludwig/Elisabeth Grummer
6. Act Two, Scene Two: Entweihte Gotter! Helft Jetzt Meiner Rache! - Christa Ludwig
7. Act Two, Scene Two: Ortud, Wo Bist Du? - Elisabeth Grummer/Christa Ludwig
8. Act Two, Scene Two: Du Armste Kannst Wohl Nie Ermessen - Elisabeth Grummer/Christa Ludwig
9. Act Two, Scene Two: So Zieht Das Unheil In Dies Haus! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
10. Act Two, Scene Three: (Morning Song)/In Fruh'n Versammelt Uns Der Ruf - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
11. Act Two, Scene Three: Des Konigs Wort Und Will' Tu' Ich Euch Kund - Otto Wiener/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
12. Act Two, Scene Three: Nun Hort, Dem Lande Will Er Uns Entfuhren! - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
13. Act Two, Scene Four: (Procession)/Gesegnet Soll Sie Schreiten - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
14. Act Two, Scene Four: Zuruck, Elsa! Nicht Langer Will Ich Dulden - Christa Ludwig/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Elisabeth Grummer
15. Act Two, Scene Five: Heil! Heil Dem Konig! - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick/Elisabeth Grummer/Jess Thomas
16. Act Two, Scene Five: O Konig! Trugbetorte Fursten! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Gottlob Frick/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Jess Thomas
17. Act Two, Scene Five: Welch Ein Geheimnis Muss Der Held Bewahren? - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick/Christa Ludwig/Dietrich Fischer...
18. Act Two, Scene Five: Mein Held! Entgegne Kuhn Dem Ungetreuen! - Gottlob Frick/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Jess Thomas/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau...
19. Act Two, Scene Five: In Deiner Hand, In Deiner Treu' - Jess Thomas/Elisabeth Grummer/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer

Disc 3:

1. Act Three: Prld - VPO/Rudolf Kempe
2. Act Three, Scene One: Treulich Gefuhrt Ziehet Dahin - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
3. Act Three, Scene Two: Das Susse Lied Verhallt; Wir Sind Allein - Jess Thomas/Elisabeth Grummer
4. Act Three, Scene Two: Wie Hehr Erkenn' Ich Unsrer Liebe Wesen! - Jess Thomas/Elisabeth Grummer
5. Act Three, Scene Two: Atmest Du Nicht Mit Mir Die Sussen Dufte? - Jess Thomas
6. Act Three, Scene Two: Ach! Konnt' Ich Deiner Wert Erscheinen - Elisabeth Grummer/Jess Thomas
7. Act Three, Scene Two: Hochstes Vertraun Hast Du Mir Schon Zu Danken - Jess Thomas
8. Act Three, Scene Two: Hilf Gott, Was Muss Ich Horen! - Elisabeth Grummer/Jess Thomas
9. Act Three, Scene Two: Hortest Du Nichts? - Elisabeth Grummer/Jess Thomas
10. Act Three, Scene Two: Tragt Den Erschlagnen Vor Des Konigs Gericht! - Jess Thomas
11. Act Three, Scene Three: (Sunrise)/Heil Konig Heinrich! - VPO/Rudolf Kempe
12. Act Three, Scene Three: Was Bringen Die? Was Tun Sie Kund? - Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick
13. Act Three, Scene Three: Mein Herr Und Konig, Lass Dir Melden - Jess Thomas/Gottlob Frick/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
14. Act Three, Scene Three: In Fernem Land - Jess Thomas/Gottlob Frick/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer
15. Act Three, Scene Three: Mir Schwankt Der Boden! - Elisabeth Grummer/Jess Thomas/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Gottlob Frick
16. Act Three, Scene Three: O Bleib, Und Zieh Uns Nicht Von Dannen! - Gottlob Frick/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Jess Thomas
17. Act Three, Scene Three: Mein Lieber Schwan! - Jess Thomas
18. Act Three, Scene Three: Weh! Weh! Du Edler, Holder Mann! - Gottlob Frick/Chor Of The Vienna State Opr/Richard Rossmayer/Christa Ludwig/Jess Thomas...

Rating: - THIS RECORDING DESERVES TO BE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST OF THE 20TH CENTURY
This recording of Lohengrin deserves not only 5 stars but 10. It is the best performance of this opera ever recorded. The playing of the VPO under Kempe is superb specially the strings. The chorus is also first rate. But it is the cast of singers that makes the difference. Both Gottlob Frick as the King and Otto Wiener as the Herald are superb. Jess Thomas is not one of my favorite singers, but here he has perhaps his best performance, now incisive, now romantic and passionate. In my opinion, he is much better than Placido Domingo for Solti, for he can control his huge voice much better according to the demands of each scene, whereas Domingo sounds a little bit gritty in his first performance of the character. He would sing Lohengrin much more satisfactorily some years later for Abbado in the Vienna Opera. Grummer was the perfect choice for Elsa; she conveys the frailty of the character as no other singer. But it is the couple of villains that steal the show. Fischer Dieskau and Christa Ludwig are among the greatest singers of the 20th century and here both are at their best. They simply set the standards for their roles, and whenever one listens to any performance of Lohengrin, it is inevitable that the singing and acting of the singers who play Ortrud and Telramund are judged taking the ones of Ludwig and Fischer Dieskau as the parameter. Sound quality is excellent, but, of course, it cannot match Solti's album, recorded in 1985. But this performance is worth every cent you pay for the CDs.

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Rating: - Brilliant dark meanderings
Wagner was already into serious genius territory when he wrote this opera--which is practically as long, complex, maddening and fascinating as anything else he wrote. The recording and rendering of this lengthy maze of text and music is a testament to the genius of the producer, conductor, record company, engineers, musicians and singers, who are uniformly good to great. The texture of the sound is especially pleasing here--an analog warmth and silkiness comes across without the tape hiss and lack of definition and clarity that were troublesome with LP records. I've listened to it several times and am more impressed with each listening. One small complaint--Jess Thomas never really did much for me. He seems overshadowed by such towering singers as Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Christa Ludwig. Even the distinguished critic who wrote the liner notes for this set failed to include Thomas in his list of brilliant singers who were recruited for the cast--a telling omission. Oh well, heldentenors were not then, nor are they now hanging out on every street corner. This behemoth works anyway and provides, as they say, hours of entertainment for those long dark winter days....and nights.

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Rating: - Only one nit to pick...
...Perfectionists, beware. Just a bit after 16 minutes into the second act, between Ortrud's words "er war in deiner Macht!" and Telramund's response "Entsetzlich!" the present "Great Recordings of the Century" issue of this recording suffers from a truly appalling editing error. About a half second of music just seems to have gone missing. It's not a subtle mistake. Anybody who's not sleeping through this incomparable scene will easily hear it. And it's painful.

Still the best version ever, of course.

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Rating: - THE REAL THING
This is a disc that displays its credentials as a 'Great Recording of the Century' in every bar. Getting on for nearly half a century old now, it still stands firm as by far the most recommendable version of the opera.

Certainly the singing cast is uniformly outstanding. The villains of the piece, Ortrud and Telramund, almost take over the show in the hands of Christa Ludwig and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. The opening scene of Act 2, with its dark foreshadowings of Wagner's later style, is compulsive here as the witch-like disciple of the 'old religion' probes and explores every chink and weakness in her husband's psyche while he struggles and frets to cling onto the last vestiges of his 'honour' like a fly caught in her spider's web. Ortrud's invocation of her gods in the solo which follows his departure is absolutely hair-raising. And the way in which she subverts and manipulates Elsa in the scene after that is just as psychologically and vocally fascinating as anything in The Ring. Great singing actors both.

The somewhat goody-goody hero and heroine will always find it hard to live with all that. The Devil always did get the best tunes. But Elisabeth Grummer is a near ideal Elsa. Only Janowitz on the Kubelik set runs her close. The voice is pure and silvery, but her vocal acting makes the character far from the simpleton Elsa can often seem. The Dream and Euch luften are both treasurable. Jess Thomas is not to everyone's taste but he characterises the Grail Knight wonderfully (as he always did in the theatre) and sings with consistently thoughtful and musical sense. The voice perhaps lacks that degree of Italianate bel canto that fits this part better than any other of Wagner's tenor heroes. For that you have to go back to the likes of de Lucia from the tail-end of the 19th Century or the Frenchman Georges Thill between the Wars. Gigli recorded some fascinating bits in his own inimitable style. Melchior was, I always think, a bit stentorian for the part. Among modern singers, only Domingo really essays this approach.

Frick is a rock-solid King Heinrich: Otto Wiener is luxury casting indeed as the Herald. The chorus from the Vienna Opera are magnificent, as is the Vienna Phil. But the greatest accolades should go to Rudolf Kempe, a Wagner conductor who would never tear a passion to tatters like a Solti nor indulge in an over-upholstered bed of sound like a Karajan. Here he has the full measure of Wagner's most 'operatic' opera, delivering perfect pacing, consistently long-breathed phrasing and great punch when it's called for.

These are discs that fully live up to their billing as one of the 'Great Recordings of the Century'.

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Rating: - A beloved reading, but for me there are drawbacks
Every once in a while a classic opera set disappoints me. I cannot say that this Lohengrin is anything but fine. Even so, I didn't feel drawn in completely. Jess Thomas strikes me as straining to sound more heroic than his voice actually wants to be--this was a common problem in an era lacking true heldentenors, as witness Windgassen when he sang Tristan or Siegfried--but he looked every inch the part, and the gound was thin for Lohengrins. Kempe is a British favorite among condcutors because he headed the BBC Symphony in the Sixties, and that accounts a lot for the high praise for what he does here. He's scrupulous and restained much of the time; I don't find any genius present here, and Lohengrin benefits from less caution and more let 'er rip. Grummer is touching as a light-voiced Elsa, but there is a fast beat in her voice that took a while ot adjust to.

I sound like I'm niggling, but I've responded emotionally to other Lohengrins, like the Abbado and Solti, with more enthusiasm and visceral excitement. Classics can be superceded.