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SECOND LOTTE LEHMANN TRIBUTE We begin this second Lotte Lehmann Tribute (the first is available on an Arabesque CD) with Lehmann herself singing a Lied that she never recorded. This has been made available thanks to Fred Maroth of Music & Arts and Ed Wilkonson. Originally a radio broadcast from one of Lehmann’s many Town Hall recitals, it was never released in any format because, at a crucial moment in the song, the radio’s “top of the hour” time tone blanks out the performance. But there is certainly a lot left to enjoy of the Lehmann/Ulanowsky classic performance of Schubert’s Der Wanderer. You may choose from three formats for this song: completely unedited; slightly edited; quite edited. After you've sampled this unique recording, please enjoy the spoken and sung tributes which follow. No one, not even the pianists involved, was paid for their services. Thus, may I begin the deserved “many thanks” to all these wonderful artists! You can click on their names for a full biography. Contributors to the Second Lehmann Tribute include her former students, Lehmann Foundation advisors and Lehmann colleagues. One of Lehmann’s last students was Jeannine Altmeier, who went on to an international career, specializing in the Wagner heroines that she studied with Lehmann. Her Bayreuth years have been well documented on DVD, but her dedication to song is less recognized. In the following performance (made especially for this tribute) of Schubert’s Gretchen am Spinnrade with Val Underwood, piano, you’ll hear Jeannine’s complete involvement with every aspect of the words of Goethe and Schubert’s setting. Lincoln Clark, one of Lehmann's early students at the MAW, recalls working with her. Evangeline Noël Glass studied opera and Lieder with Lehmann (in Santa Barbara 1958/59 and the summer of 1961, Vienna, and Salzburg in 1964) and has recorded Schumann's Aus den hebräischen Gesängen with her husband, Beaumont Glass. We've provided the song's German words and English translation. Both the singer's spoken tribute and the pianist's memories are available. Marilyn Horne worked with Lehmann at the MAW in the 1950’s, and remained in touch with her by mail and through returning for advice. Her spoken memory provides ample evidence of how these two strong personalities interacted. It is as an opera singer that Carol Neblett is best known, although she has sung and taught the solo song repertoire. Her memories of Lehmann’s private lessons are obviously part of her teaching now. Carol shares some of these memories in her spoken tribute. Katsuumi Niwa began study with Mme. Lehmann in 1962 and besides Lieder, he studied opera roles and even Japanese folk songs, such as the one Niwa sings for this tribute: The Wooden Ladle Seller's Song. His pianist is Shoko Matsui. Included is a background commentary on the words of this song. Shirley Sproule was a Lehmann student from the early years at the Music Academy of the West. In her 80th year at the time of this performance of Schumann’s Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint, her spoken introduction demonstrates her devotion to Lehmann. She used the pianist Paula Fan, from the University of Arizona, with whom she had taught before her retirement. Page Swift studied with Lehmann at the MAW in 1954 and has always enjoyed singing Lieder, though her professional singing career has been with the San Francisco Opera Chorus. In her spoken prelude she mentions the importance that Die Mainacht by Brahms holds for her. The pianist is Dietrich Erbelding. Lehmann Foundation Advisors/Board of Directors: Juliane Banse recorded for the first Lehmann Tribute, but her spoken thoughts were not included on that CD. Hugues Cuénod spoke about Lehmann and even sang a bit in this telephone interview recorded in his 105th year. Mary Dibbern recorded with Kurt Ollmann for the first Lehmann Tribute, but there wasn't space on that CD for her spoken comments. Alexander Farkas performs Fauré's En Sourdine with Damien Top and speaks his Lehmann memories as well. Thomas Hampson, one of the original Advisors, speaks profoundly about Lehmann’s interpretations. He could be considereds a "grand" student of Lehmann, because his first teacher, Sister Marietta Coyle, had studied with her. Graham Johnson never met Lehmann, though he knows many who knew her and of course, knows her recordings and books. He is able to articulate, in his spoken tribute, his insights into her special interpretive genius. Kurt Ollmann sang on the first Lehmann Tribute, but there was not enough space to include his spoken remarks. Derek Lee Ragin has chosen the Negro spiritual This Little Light of Mine for his Lehmann tribute. His pianist is Andrew McMillan. I have heard Lehmann masterclasses in which she coached African Americans in spirituals with the same demands of her Lieder classes. Frederica von Stade has been an Advisor to the Lehmann Foundation for many years. Her vast repertoire includes opera, American song, French mélodie, and German Lieder, but I am not aware of her recording Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben, from which she chose Seit ich ihn gesehen to present for this Lehmann tribute, which she recorded with Jim Meredith. Damien Top is known for his dedication to mélodie, which he demonstrates in Fauré's En Sourdine which he performs with Alex Farkas. His spoken thoughts are related specifically to Mme. Lehmann. Brian Zeger appeared on the first Lehmann tribute with Juliane Banse. Space didn't permit his comments from appearing on that recording. Beamont Glass speaks and accompanies his wife, Evangeline Noël Glass. British author Charles Osborne recalls Lehmann at the Met and in her European trips.
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