Christian Gerhaher as Wolfram

[narraboth]

My first post in this forum contribute to him.
I listened to him singing Wolfram back in 2010 in London, his debut in ROH ever. He stole the show. Moreover, I don't think anyone in the audience heard this kind of Wolfram before.... The Lieder quality, full of details, crispy bite of German language in a clearly audible sound.... Maybe only Andreas Schmidt in CDs was a little bit up to that lieder-like level (but not quite the same), but I am not sure how well Mr Schmidt sounded like in opera house, his voice was even a bit under stress in CDs. I wonder how Mr Gerhaher made it to deliver in ROH.
Anyway, the curtain call was mad. I was thinking: 'wow. when I will hear this kind of Wolfram again?'

Luckily he's back this season and I heard him again.... He seemly was not super comfortable about the passionate audience, he looked shy and only bowed for 2 seconds before heading to the line. Maybe because poor leading Peter Seifert failed at the difficult high notes in the end of Act 2? Or because that it's already 11pm? (but it would be late anyway, it's Wagner)

Seriously thinking if I should plan a trip for next year to Munich to listen to Tannhauser for him.     

[knight66]

Welcome to the site. Gerhaher has some fans here and I have written about his recordings in the recitals thread. His is the ultimate in cultured, honest singing on disc. Live I have had a problem, but wondered whether the Prom Mahler songs were some kind of experiment in sprechegesang. He used almost no voice and was submerged into the orchestra and obscured. It may well have come over well on the radio.

But certainly his lieder is superb and I have been reading the reviews of the London performances which agree with you as to how special his contribution was to the performances.

Mike

[narraboth]

Happy to be here, although I probably missed the golden age of internet forum for 10 years? I remember someone forward me some discussion about "Studiva" (C. Studer her very self) posting on opera forum many years ago.

For Gehaher, I booked the ticket for his Proms this year! I think it's Bach, fingers crossed. My friend was in Wien listening to his Mahler and told me he did it very well. Royal Albert Hall is a horrible place for singers that I heard many big voices sinked in orchestra (they are fine in the radio).  I agree he doesn't have a big voice, the conductor has to give good support and he has to stand at the right place to deliver key words such as 'Elisabeth!'. But it was smartly organised and the result was good.