I have been enoying Volker for years. Such clear vowels and balance in his sound. Wonderful legato and probably the most beautiful tenor voice I have ever heard besides Caruso!
It's remarkable in how Mr. Franz V could MODULATE his voice and inflections, w/in the totality of an interpretation, without artifice or exaggerations. No "hectoring", no straining for certain notes - a straightforward, yet passionate (of its type) exposition of a key aria and area of a most-remarkable opera. IMO.
Sublime singing and beautiful phrasing and tone make him the ideal Lohengrin. Völker was a super classy heldentenor , one of the best of all times. It’s ia pleasure and a privilege to listen to his amazing recordings
Beautiful! I knew the name but thanks to UA-cam can hear him. So beautiful that even with this big voice, he can differentiate his sound and bring music of the highest standard
That is far more elegant, powerful, subtle than Melchiors interpretation from 1943. Compared to allmost every contemporary singer I think that they really could learn from Völker.
Franz Völker (1899 - 1965) war einer der größten deutschen Tenöre (neben Max Lorenz, Karl Erb, Peter Anders und Fritz Wunderlich, René Kollo usw. ) mit einem riesigen Repertoire. Er verfügte über eine blendende Gesangstechnik und wunderschöne Stimme, die es ihm ermöglichte, lyrische Partien ebenso glänzend zu gestalten, wie heldische Rollen mit den insoweit nötigen Metall. Als Lohengrin und Siegmund setzte er unerreichte Maßstäbe, sehe ich einmal von Sandor Konya als Lohengin ab. Auch widmete er sich erfolgreich dem Liedgesang und der Unterhaltungsmusik, wo er ebenfalls ein umfangreiches Repertoire auf Schallplatten hinterließ. Nicht nur durch seine öffentliche Auftritte, sondern auch durch zahlreiche Rundfunksendungen sang er sich in die Herzen seiner Zuhörer. Sein Legato war traumhaft. Überhaupt war sein Vortrag immer von edelster Gesangskultur getragen, wie nicht zuletzt die vorliegende Aufnahme beweist. Nach einem Fünfjahresvertrag mit den Frankfurter Städtischen Bühnen im Jahr 1926 wurde er schnell berühmt. 1931 ging er an die Wiener Staatsoper, dann wurde er 1935 Mitglied des Ensembles der Berliner Staatsoper. Gipfel seiner Laufbahn war sein Einsatz bei den Bayreuther Festspielen von 1933 bis 1942. Danach waren Abnutzungserscheinungen seiner Stimmer nicht mehr zu überhören. Anstatt sein Repertoire rechtzeitig umzugestalten, widmete er sich immer noch schweren Partien, wie Lohengrin und sogar Othello. Wie viele seiner Kollegen vor ihm und nach ihm, hatte er sich einfach übernommen. Etwa ab dem vierzigsten Lebensjahr beginnt für den Heldentenor eine kritische Phase, weil sich die physische Beschaffenheit der Stimme ändert, indem die hohen Töne immer weniger gelingen, dafür aber die Mittellage fülliger wird. Von einer rechtslastigen Vergangenheit mit dem braunen Dreck ist hingegen nichts bekannt.
Völker is considered the very best Lohengrin among all whose voices were recorded. I have never heard a better one. In his 1942 complete recording from Berlin his voice sounds tired but in the excepts from the live broadcast from Bayreuth in July 1937 under Furtwängler and the ones recorded in the studio a few days later under Tietjen as well as the studio excerpts from 1927-28, he is asbolutely sublime!
This the first time I hear him singing this - its really beautiful! Before that I knew Völker only from some songs like "Ich habe heute Nacht vom Rhein..." . Yet it is opening a totally new dimension of Völker for me. Thanks a lot!
I must admit to having no knowledge of Jess Thomas beyond his name and reputation as a singer of high standard. Certainly there are many, doubtless some fine singers that I have yet to hear and enjoy. That is one of the greatest pleasures available on channels such as this one, where we have are given the opportunity to hear voices that may often be new to us.
Lovely voice and excellent singing; surely one of the outstanding Wagnerian tenors. Listening to him caused me to think of Bernard Shaw stating often, that contrary to his reputation Wagner was very easy on the human voice and Wagnerian singers lasted forever. It also caused me to think of the inherent disgrace and abomination that Wagner‘s beautiful music contained and its inspiration to Nazis. A complex legacy.
Although on stage Richard Tauber appeared in Wagner minor roles (the Steersman in Tristan and Isolde, for example) he had a pining to perform Wagner, and he sang this aria in a concert in Holland. That performance also is available to be heard here on UA-cam, at TAUBERFANLEHAR's channel.
Too bad the recording quality of the time makes everything sound constricted. If he were recorded with today's modern equipment, this guy would blow the roof off! Cheers.
Bislang wird der unvergessene Franz Völker in diesem Forum vor allem als Opernsänger vorgestellt,aber auch als Interpret der leichten Muse(Operette,Filmschlager etc.). Völker war aber auch ein geschätzter Konzertsänger.Besonders sind folgende Lied-Aufnahmen zu erwähnen: "Wiegenlied" von Brahms, "Zueignung" von R.Strauss und "Du bist die Ruh" von Franz Schubert /Preiser-CD
It hardly seems possible, when so much contemporary Wagner performance simply sounds like such hard work, that the music should flow so easily out of the old guys- Urlus, Lorenz, Melchior. Wasn't familiar with Volker, but he's no exception.
Volker's a fine singer indeed. The Hungarian Sandor Konya also makes a nice job of this aria (he is to be seen on UA-cam performing it), as does Richard Crooks. Lauritz Melchior is a wee bit heavy on the gas for this one but impressive nevertheless. Has Ben Heppner recorded this? I must check to see whether he's available here on UA-cam in this great piece.
You're so unfair. Völker sings beautifully and portrais a character ( just like Windgassen did ). Konya sings - destroying the German language, by the way - and nothing else. Melchior's Lohengrin keeps all the time yelling.
The thing is nobody actually believes in the power of Wagner's orchestra anymore. Most artist say they do, but usually they end up overdoing both singing and staging, whereas the music itself is second-placed.
I have been enoying Volker for years. Such clear vowels and balance in his sound. Wonderful legato and probably the most beautiful tenor voice I have ever heard besides Caruso!
This is about as fine as Wagnerian tenor singing gets! Wonderful!
It's remarkable in how Mr. Franz V could MODULATE his voice and inflections, w/in the totality of an interpretation, without artifice or exaggerations. No "hectoring", no straining for certain notes - a straightforward, yet passionate (of its type) exposition of a key aria and area of a most-remarkable opera. IMO.
one of my favorite songs of all time - beautiful version, with that nobility of soul that makes it even more beautiful
Il Lohengrin per eccellenza !!! Grandissima voce, eccellente fraseggio, brillantezza di tonalità .... unico ed inarrivabile !
Sublime singing and beautiful phrasing and tone make him the ideal Lohengrin. Völker was a super classy heldentenor , one of the best of all times. It’s ia pleasure and a privilege to listen to his amazing recordings
Beautiful! I knew the name but thanks to UA-cam can hear him. So beautiful that even with this big voice, he can differentiate his sound and bring music of the highest standard
That is far more elegant, powerful, subtle than Melchiors interpretation from 1943. Compared to allmost every contemporary singer I think that they really could learn from Völker.
His 1936 Bayreuth Bridal Scene duet with Maria Mueller is sublime!
Völker is definitely my favorite Lohengrin!
His beautiful legato and lyricism put a standard to all interpreters of this role.
Simply beautiful.
Franz Völker (1899 - 1965) war einer der größten deutschen Tenöre (neben Max Lorenz, Karl Erb, Peter Anders und Fritz Wunderlich, René Kollo usw. ) mit einem riesigen Repertoire. Er verfügte über eine blendende Gesangstechnik und wunderschöne Stimme, die es ihm ermöglichte, lyrische Partien ebenso glänzend zu gestalten, wie heldische Rollen mit den insoweit nötigen Metall. Als Lohengrin und Siegmund setzte er unerreichte Maßstäbe, sehe ich einmal von Sandor Konya als Lohengin ab. Auch widmete er sich erfolgreich dem Liedgesang und der Unterhaltungsmusik, wo er ebenfalls ein umfangreiches Repertoire auf Schallplatten hinterließ. Nicht nur durch seine öffentliche Auftritte, sondern auch durch zahlreiche Rundfunksendungen sang er sich in die Herzen seiner Zuhörer. Sein Legato war traumhaft. Überhaupt war sein Vortrag immer von edelster Gesangskultur getragen, wie nicht zuletzt die vorliegende Aufnahme beweist.
Nach einem Fünfjahresvertrag mit den Frankfurter Städtischen Bühnen im Jahr 1926 wurde er schnell berühmt. 1931 ging er an die Wiener Staatsoper, dann wurde er 1935 Mitglied des Ensembles der Berliner Staatsoper. Gipfel seiner Laufbahn war sein Einsatz bei den Bayreuther Festspielen von 1933 bis 1942. Danach waren Abnutzungserscheinungen seiner Stimmer nicht mehr zu überhören. Anstatt sein Repertoire rechtzeitig umzugestalten, widmete er sich immer noch schweren Partien, wie Lohengrin und sogar Othello. Wie viele seiner Kollegen vor ihm und nach ihm, hatte er sich einfach übernommen. Etwa ab dem vierzigsten Lebensjahr beginnt für den Heldentenor eine kritische Phase, weil sich die physische Beschaffenheit der Stimme ändert, indem die hohen Töne immer weniger gelingen, dafür aber die Mittellage fülliger wird. Von einer rechtslastigen Vergangenheit mit dem braunen Dreck ist hingegen nichts bekannt.
It´s the Furtwängler tape, great!
Völker is considered the very best Lohengrin among all whose voices were recorded.
I have never heard a better one.
In his 1942 complete recording from Berlin his voice sounds tired but in the excepts from the live broadcast from Bayreuth in July 1937 under Furtwängler and the ones recorded in the studio a few days later under Tietjen as well as the studio excerpts from 1927-28, he is asbolutely sublime!
la música hace milagros, es inmenso, no sé lo que dice, pero lo intuyo.... desde el alma... desde Montevideo.
Lovely singing.One of my favourite Wagner selections.TY primobaritono for posting and James for sharing.
The tone production is effortless and beautiful. Wonderful technique.
Extraordinary tenro!!!! first time I hear him; and let me tell you, I will look for more material from him. BRAVOOO!!!!Thanks for sharing!!!!
perfection!!!!!!!!! Love it!
Thank you for the upload, primobaritono; I fully agree with you in every detail! I, too, like the elegance and the ringing clarity in his voice!
magnifico.
Wonderful. Never heard him before. Even
singing. No sense of strain for the high notes. Thank you.
My second choice for Lohengrin ( my first is Wolfgang Windgassen ). Heavenly singing.
the best with Konia ; Thanks
This the first time I hear him singing this - its really beautiful! Before that I knew Völker only from some songs like "Ich habe heute Nacht vom Rhein..." . Yet it is opening a totally new dimension of Völker for me. Thanks a lot!
I must admit to having no knowledge of Jess Thomas beyond his name and reputation as a singer of high standard. Certainly there are many, doubtless some fine singers that I have yet to hear and enjoy. That is one of the greatest pleasures available on channels such as this one, where we have are given the opportunity to hear voices that may often be new to us.
Lovely voice and excellent singing; surely one of the outstanding Wagnerian tenors. Listening to him caused me to think of Bernard Shaw stating often, that contrary to his reputation Wagner was very easy on the human voice and Wagnerian singers lasted forever. It also caused me to think of the inherent disgrace and abomination that Wagner‘s beautiful music contained and its inspiration to Nazis. A complex legacy.
primobaritono thanks for Voelker almost forget him
Although on stage Richard Tauber appeared in Wagner minor roles (the Steersman in Tristan and Isolde, for example) he had a pining to perform Wagner, and he sang this aria in a concert in Holland. That performance also is available to be heard here on UA-cam, at TAUBERFANLEHAR's channel.
Too bad the recording quality of the time makes everything sound constricted. If he were recorded with today's modern equipment, this guy would blow the roof off! Cheers.
Danke
Auch Peter Anders - Fr.Völkers jüngerer Tenorkollege - hat eine wundervolle Gralserzählung hinterlassen ( Köln, 1951 ) ...
An ihn musste ich auch denken.
Sein r ist fantastisch : herab, Ritterschaft, erkoren
großartig!
wunderbar
@CanadaPisces Beautiful! thank you for sharing James!
Thanks to primobaritono for posting! : )
Bislang wird der unvergessene Franz Völker in diesem Forum vor allem als Opernsänger vorgestellt,aber auch als Interpret der leichten Muse(Operette,Filmschlager etc.). Völker war aber auch ein geschätzter Konzertsänger.Besonders sind folgende Lied-Aufnahmen zu erwähnen: "Wiegenlied" von Brahms, "Zueignung" von R.Strauss und "Du bist die Ruh" von Franz Schubert /Preiser-CD
Divino
It hardly seems possible, when so much contemporary Wagner performance simply sounds like such hard work, that the music should flow so easily out of the old guys- Urlus, Lorenz, Melchior. Wasn't familiar with Volker, but he's no exception.
Elegant !
Hans NL
Für wen gesungen? Um der Schönheit der Musik willen. Jeder Sänger kann einfach nicht anders.
Volker's a fine singer indeed. The Hungarian Sandor Konya also makes a nice job of this aria (he is to be seen on UA-cam performing it), as does Richard Crooks. Lauritz Melchior is a wee bit heavy on the gas for this one but impressive nevertheless. Has Ben Heppner recorded this? I must check to see whether he's available here on UA-cam in this great piece.
You're so unfair. Völker sings beautifully and portrais a character ( just like Windgassen did ). Konya sings - destroying the German language, by the way - and nothing else. Melchior's Lohengrin keeps all the time yelling.
More 'raw power' as you say for Sigfried perhaps. Not for Lohengrin. Voelker is perfect for this role.
The thing is nobody actually believes in the power of Wagner's orchestra anymore. Most artist say they do, but usually they end up overdoing both singing and staging, whereas the music itself is second-placed.
les grands moyens....
Très beau style,timbre un peu aride.Aigu parfois sec,et même droit.
I find that Peter Anders is equally as good as Völker in this one...
René Pariente: J'aime mais préfère en Français car j'ai quelques ennuis avec la langue allemande depuis Hitler.
What about the French language after The French Revolution - the French TERROR, the guillotine, and after Napoleon, the king of genocides? Pffff.
für wen der wohl gesungen hat ...
Not the best Lohengrin to me. I like Georges Thill and Paul Franz versions more.
Nothing!