Search - Wagner, Kollo, Tomowa-Sintow :: Lohengrin

*Get the re-mastered version instead*

Ryan Kouroukis | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 09/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1st cd release of Karajan's Lohengrin in 1988 suffers from a weird and off-balance sound mastering. It was re-mastered again in 1997 which fixed all the problems.



Please consider that version over this one, the box cover is White and has a Swan in the top left corner)."

A Lohengrin with a troubled past

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 07/17/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is an older CD reissue of a star-crossed opera project that took Karajan years to complete. The final result tells us why he vacillated and why the singers had to go in and out of the studio. Everything sounds cobbled together, and despite Karajan's great mastery of Wagner, he sounds out of sorts throughout. His general approach is overblown, with expansive tempos tending toward the lethargic, to quote the Gramophone reviewer. This is also a poor recording job, as often happened with Karajan's late EMI efforts -- volume varies so widely that you can't find a suitable level that isn't either too soft or annoyingly loud. Distant miking hurts the intimacy of the singing as well.



But the real damage is done by weak casting. Kollo blares constantly and has no spiritual feeling for the title role. He is in rough, at times harsh voice, having lost whatever gleam it had in youth, and the absence of tender legato is painful. Compared to Konya, Jerusalem, and Domingo in rival sets, Kollo comes off badly. In the Eighties Tomowa-Sintow was Karajan's favorite in roles like the Marschallin in Rosenkavalier, and the fact that she sounds too mature for Elsa isn't fatal. But her big voice sounds unwieldy, and she seems to be influened by Karajan's grand conception to turn poor Elsa into an also-ran Brunnhilde.



In other respects, such as the secondary roles and the orchestral execution, one can find enjoyment in this checkered recording, but I am baffled by anyone who could possibly give it five stars."

A beautiful recording of Lohengrin!

Santa Fe Listener | 12/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful stereo studeo recording of Lohengrin. The Berlin Philharmonic, under Karajan, play like angels. In terms of orchestral sound this is the most beautiful recording of Lohengrin available. The highlight of the cast is Rene Kollo in the lead role who gives a beautiful lyrical performance. Dunja Vejzovic is an ideal Ortrud. The rest of the cast are excellent too. This is a fantastic recording!"