Lebendige Vergangenheit: Tiana Lemnitz

On this CD:

1. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492 Porgi amor
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Bruno Seidler-Winkler

2. Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492 Dove sono
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Bruno Seidler-Winkler

3. Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), opera, K. 620 Ach ich fühl's
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

4. Der Freischütz, opera in 3 acts, J. 277 Wie nahte mir der Schlummer
Composed by Carl Maria von Weber
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Bruno Seidler-Winkler

5. Der Freischütz, opera in 3 acts, J. 277 Und ob die Wolke sie verhülle
Composed by Carl Maria von Weber
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz

6. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70 Dich, teure Halle
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz

7. Tannhäuser, opera, WWV 70 Allmächt'ge Jungfrau
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz

8. Lohengrin, opera, WWV 75 Einsam in trüben Tagen
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Johannes Schuler

9. Lohengrin, opera, WWV 75 Euch Lüften, die mein Klagen
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Johannes Schuler

10. Aida, opera Als Sieger kehre heim
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Franz Schmidt

11. Otello, opera Sie sass voll Leide auf öder Heide
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Bruno Seidler-Winkler

12. Otello, opera Sei mir gegrüsst, Jungfrau Maria
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Tiana Lemnitz
Conducted by Bruno Seidler-Winkler

Tracks:

Le Nozze Di Figaro: Porgi Amor
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Dove Sono
Die Zauberflote: Ach, Ich Fuhl's
Der Freischutz: Wie Nahte Mir Der Schlummer
Der Freischutz: Und Ob Die Wolke Sie Verhulle
Tannhauser: Dich, Teure Halle
Tannhauser: Allmacht'ge Jungfrau
Lohengrin: Einsam In Truben Tagen
Lohengrin: Euch Luften, Die Mein Klagen
Aida: Als Sieger Kehre Heim
Othello: Sie Sass Voll Leide Auf Oder Heide
Othello: Sei Mir Gegrusst, Jungfrau Maria

Customer Reviews:

Glorious voice, troubling past.......1999-12-30

Have you ever eaten something truly delicious, or had a good wine, only to find later that it left an unpleasant aftertaste in your mouth? Perhaps the next time you were offered the offending item you thought twice: "Should I indulge and regret it later, or should avoid it altogether?"

Forgive this tangent, but listening to the voice of Tiana Lemnitz is an experience similar to the one I described above. The voice itself is ravishing, but the knowledge of Lemnitz's Nazi associations (ardent support, really) becomes analogous to the unpleasant aftertaste and almost ruins the experience.

I know aestheticians say that an artist's personal life should have no bearing on whether their work is of a high quality or not, and for that reason I give this particular disc five stars. For the voice itself is exquisite, and the technical expertise assured. Lemnitz falls into that category of German soprano who sings with creamy tone, unfailing musicality, and an almost ethereal purity (think Janowitz, Della Casa, or Gruemmer) and who makes a marvelous Agathe, Elsa, and Eva. Lemnitz's pianissimo is on a par with Caballe -- indeed, it was her specialty. Her Mozart arias are breathtaking, her Wagner otherworldly, and her "Freischuetz" arias masterfully sung. Everything is marked by a coolness and reserve (compare her Verdi to the passionate and committed Italians Maria Caniglia or Gina Cigna), but the vocalism is superb.