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Reviews: Wagner: Lohengrin - Janowski

Reviews: 2

Site review by Castor June 26, 2012
Performance:   Sonics:  
The text for this review has been moved to the new site. You can read it here:

http://www.HRAudio.net/showmusic.php?title=8000#reviews

Review by Daland July 17, 2012 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
I partly agree with the review above, but there is a major caveat. I think that it was wrong to cast Klaus Florian Vogt in the title role even though he has sung the role in Bayreuth and elsewhere. Vogt, who is currently hailed as a new Heldentenor, has a bright and loud voice that can cut through the orchestral fabric. But a true heroic tenor would need much more body in the mid-range and at the bottom. And the timbre is also far from heroic and may best be described as colourless. To make matters worse, Vogt’s poor breath support means that the melodic line is interrupted all the time. His poor phrasing creates the impression that he is not really involved in what he is singing. The media are full of praise for his effortless command of the top notes, but don’t you take this for granted in what is really a lyric tenor?

Fortunately, the orchestra and some of the soloists make up for this shortcoming. In particular, Susanne Resmark as Ortrud and Günther Groissböck as King Henry give remarkable performances. Annette Dasch as Elsa is a bit uneven, but sings beautifully. Mmost of the credit for the spectacular climaxes must, however, go to the Rundfunkchor Berlin, which is once again on top form.

Sonically, I found this recording less impressive than Bychkov's account. I had expected more activity in the rear channels. The transition from the second to the third scene of Act III is a case in point. While Bychkov's makes good use of the multi-channel technology to indicate that the troops are coming from all directions, this is hardly noticeable in the Janowski version.

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