An Archivist Checks History

Often when one hears the word "archivist" or "discographer" there is a question as to not only what the word means, but thereafter, what "use" one is. Here you'll see the results of archival, discographical digging.

As mentioned in this issue's LL bibliography, [Website users note: only available in the "bibliography" section of the "biography" page.] Marilyn Horne wrote a chapter about Lehmann, not all of which was laudatory. I decided to check the portion quoting Lehmann during a master class which Horne found inappropriate and hurtful. I found it on a tape recorded at the Music Academy of the West in August of 1952 or 1953.

I have personally been witness to some playfully threatening remarks by Lehmann, ("You do that again and I keeel you!"), but nothing that seemed so damaging to a young student's ego as LL's words to Horne as quoted by Horne: "Your Cherman vas a disgrrrace in ze Loberrro conzert...You vill neverr be grreat becauss you cannot master ze lenkvich."

Perhaps, because Lehmann was critical, the young Horne remembers only the stinging words, but in the interest of accuracy, here is a transcription of Lehmann's exact words:

"Do you study with anybody German? You sang lovely (at Lobero) but your German is absolutely (word not clear). You have to study with somebody German. You want to become a very first class singer, don't you?" Horne replies: "Oh yes.." and LL continues: "You have to learn German. If you want to sing a concert and want to sing in German, you can't make such abominable (is that the right word?) mistakes as you did. I sat there and cringed. It was very good. The whole concert was, I mean, it is perhaps even ridiculous that I say anything, it was excellent. I was very happy and very proud. But the diction was terrible. So promise me, will you? Look around for a German teacher and learn German."

At this point LL gives her English translation of Brahms' "Botschaft" which Horne then sings. Afterwards LL tries to get Horne to correctly pronounce the word "spricht" with the "sch" sound at the beginning. When Horne finally gets it, even Horne laughs. LL continues to address the subject of diction for all students and returns to Horne with the words, "But you have promised to take care of it," and finally a little lighter, "Very nice."

There is no doubt that Lehmann could be demanding and even critical in both private lessons and (public) master classes. But generally she couched her words in diplomatic, considerate language.

If you were a student or an audience member, please share wlth us your recollections of Lehmann, the teacher. If you have tapes, or know anyone who has recordings of LL lessons, public or private, please let us know.

This discographer has the good news to report that new non-commercial recordings of Lehmann have surfaced and I'll be making copies for the various Lehmann archives. One item is Schubert's "Serenade" which was broadcast on "Concert Hall" in 1943. Another such discovery is her performance on "Command Performance" of Brahms' "Lullaby", also in 1943.

--GH