Time to get out the crazy helmets. Tomorrow, May 22, is the birthday of Richard Wagner (1813-1883). This Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” we’ll honor his legacy with a handful of historic recordings.
American baritone Lawrence Tibbett never actually sang the role of Wotan on-stage, in the context of a “Ring” cycle. However, he did record “Wotan’s Farewell and Magic Fire Music,” magnificently, in 1934, with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Leopold Stokowski.
Karl Muck was a victim of anti-German sentiment during his time as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which, unfortunately, happened to coincide with the First World War. Be that as it may, he was held in the highest regard by fellow musicians and thought by many to be one of Wagner’s finest interpreters. We’ll hear a fascinating 1927 recording of the Transformation music and the beginning of the Grail Scene from Act III of “Parsifal,” made at the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth. The recording employs the original bells designed by Wagner, which would be melted down by the Nazis for ammunition during the Second World War. So this will be a rare opportunity to experience the “Parsifal” Wagner actually knew. Muck was principal conductor of the Bayreuth Festival since 1903. He conducted “Parsifal” at Bayreuth 14 times between 1901 and 1930.
Finally, we’ll return to “Die Walkure” to wrap things up on a buoyant note with Siegmund and Sieglinde’s love music from Act I, which concludes with the lovers fleeing together into the welcoming spring. Nine months later, Sieglinde gives birth to Siegfried, the saga’s hero-without-fear. Lotte Lehmann strikes sparks with legendary Danish heldentenor Lauritz Melchoir in a 1935 recording with Bruno Walter and the Vienna Philharmonic.
The power of these performances has been undiminished by the passage of time. Join me for “Vintage Wagner,” this Sunday night at 10 EDT, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
PHOTOS: Lotte Lehmann as Sieglinde and Lauritz Melchior as Siegmund