Lauritz Melchior (Rec 1924-1929)

"Nimbus offers an excellent representation of [Melchoir's] powers. Heartily recommended, particularly to those who have no other representation of Melchoir in their collections."
- Fanfare

When a singer is endowed with a natural dark-coloured, almost baritonal voice, a trumpet-like upper register, and with athletic stamina, he is more than likely to be pigeonholed as Wagnerian. The principle reason for this is that at any one time there may be less than six people in the world capable of performing these enormously demanding roles. Lauritz Melchior is arguably the greatest Wagnerian tenor of the century and while his recordings of the great scenes from Wagner's operas are justly renowned it is perhaps a pity that his performances of other repertoire have not enjoyed the same recognition. On this disc are included examples of his magnificent Otello, perhaps unsurpassed even by the great Italians, and his renditions of arias from Pagliacci and L'Africana. These and the more familiar repertoire associated with Melchior, provide one with a more balanced view of one of this century's greatest dramatic singers. The Wagner recordings chosen include early examples, which show his intense emotional involvement in the music, even from the outset of his international career, on the eve of his triumphs at Bayreuth and London. One can hear an example of one of his major stage partnerships when he is joined by Frida Leider in the love-duet from Tristan und Isolde. This historic recording was completed in two sessions : the first part recorded in Berlin with the Berlin State Opera Orchestra conducted by Albert Coates, and the second part, almost five months earlier in London, also with Coates, but this time with the London Symphony Orchestra. It is interesting to listen to the difference in recording quality and technique between the two studios at this time. Although a fair amount of the music has been cut, it remains one of the most outstanding renditions of this famous duet. Also included are two extracts from Die Meistersinger where Melchior sings Von Stolzing, a role he surprisingly never performed on the stage. The recital finishes with another of his great partnerships when he is joined by Kirsten Flagstad in a scene from Götterdämmerung.

Lauritz Melchior was born in Copenhagen on 20th March 1890 sharing his birthday with Beniamino Gigli. He began his career as a high baritone in 1913, but five years later made a second début, this time as a tenor. His studies in London, Berlin and Munich were followed by his sensational début at Covent Garden in 1924. The same season he joined Bayreuth, performing there for the next seven seasons. All the major European opera houses soon engaged him for guest appearances and it was not long before he was invited to America. He was later to make his home there and after retirement from the operatic stage, appeared in films and cabaret. Melchior's long career demonstrates that physical strength combined with a flawless vocal technique can sustain a voice and prevent it from damage even in the most taxing dramatic repertoire. He died in America on 18th March 1973, two days before his 83rd birthday.