New Lehmann CDs

As the March/April 1994 issue of Fanfare notes, four recent CDs amount to "a treasure trove for Lotte Lehmann fans." The first is the complete recordings of the 1941 radio broadcasts which the Lotte Lehmann Archives at UCSB issued in LP format in 1988. The set of two CDs is now available on Eklipse EKR CD 18, and, along with the following CDs which I'll discuss, are available through VAI Audio, if not in your local record store. I have been in touch with the LL Archives, and they did not provide the original masters for this release (contrary to the assumption of Marc Mandel, writing in Fanfare). I assume that these are simply a remastering of the LPs. Though there are unresolved ethical and legal questions, this is a chance to own CDs of these superb performances, if that is your only medium. The LPs are still available, with a booklet of English translations, from the LL Archives at UCSB.

Eklipse is the dream of an English vocal enthusiast; he also has a CD entitled: Lotte Lehmann in Concert 1943-1950. This hodgepodge of live and radio acetate recordings does nothing to enhance Lehmann's legacy. In fact, if this were all one knew of her, one would hesitate to listen to her again. Lehmann is not singing at her best level, even for these "late" years. Further, the technical problems of the original acetates should have been eliminated or at least improved with today's technology. The list of performances (all live) includes the following errors: number 6 is not Aufträge but Widmung; number 10 is Träume not Traume; numbers 17 and 18 are reversed. Also, three performances of Schubert's Ständchen and two of Brahms' Wiegenlied are unnecessary. What an embarrassment! A second CD is included which is most of the 1962 Met intermission interview of Maria Jeritza and Lehmann conducted by John Gutman. Though famous in their primes as rivals and worse, they pretend to be civil. If one is curious to hear this as a document of hypocrisy, fine, but don't expect historic information of any value. The CD is EKR CD20.

The third portion of this bonanza is Lotte Lehmann: The New York Farewell Recital which took place on 16 February 1951, not on the seventh, as Fanfare's Mandel reports. He may be confusing this with the Santa Barbara farewell of 7 August 1951. But I do agree with him when he writes: "The opening Schumann group gives full testament to Lehmann's powers of expression..." What he fails to mention is that, beyond being a historic document, Lehmann included some songs by Cornelius and Franz that she never recorded elsewhere. He notes that the famous intermission speech wasn't included. It is conspicuous by its absence; the CD runs only 57:40, so it could have been included. But, if not otherwise part of your Lehmann collection, don't miss this VAI Audio, VAIA 1038

The final CD which Mandel reviewed is the third act of Der Rosenkavaller from San Francisco in 1945, which, of course, doesn't focus on the Marschallin until the final moments, and these are mostly the famous trio. The EMI CD of 1933 is Lehmann in her prime, and except for the chance to hear her "live" and for historic purposes, I can't recommend this one.

Filling out this CD to its 76 minutes is an interview that Mandel incorrectly attributes to me. His sole reference was probably the Beaumont Glass biography of Lehmann, and my discography, since its publication in that book, has been through several revisions. According to Elizabeth Witherell, curator of manuscripts ar UCSB Special Collections Library (including the LL Archive), "Lincoln Mayorga was the interviewer in the February 27, 1973, interview with Lehmann. Gary [Hickling] apparently did an earlier birthday interview, late in 1972; maybe the reviewer confused the two." This is another Eklipse effort EKR CD25.

There are also CDs which "include" LL which have appeared since our last newsletter. Great Voices of the Century Sing Tchaikovsky: Memoir CDMOIR 422 (distributed by (Qualiton). LL sings (in German) the final part of the Letter Scene from Eugene Onegin. In the book Opera on Record, LL's performance on this recording is described as able to depict "an impulsive whole-hearted creature, ready for new experience."

The second CD has yet to be released but should prove an important addition to the LL discography. Koch-Schwann is slowly releasing CDs in its "Wiener Staatsoper" edition. They draw upon the resources of the archives of the sound engineer Hermann May, and the series covers excerpts from "live" performances at the Vienna State Opera from 1933-1944. Lehmann, as far as I can tell, will be represented two or three times. [Website Users...this turned out to be a treasure, though the sound is scratchy: see Complete CDs.]—GH

Note: The September 1994 Opera News touts a new CD, Viennese Nights, which includes at least one selection from Lehmann. It is Memoir Classics 419. —JS

Note: 2 Just released!—LL Santa Barbara Farewell Recital, 7 Aug 1951, with Gwendolyn Koldofsky, pianist. Eklipse EKR CD35. —GH