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Max LorenzGerman Heldentenor, outstanding performer of Wagnerian roles
Date of Birth: 10.05.1901
Country:  Austria |
Content:
Biography of Max Lorenz
Max Lorenz was a German heldentenor, renowned for his exceptional performances in Wagnerian roles. His voice was remarkably warm and simultaneously incredibly powerful, unlike many other opera tenors who had transitioned from baritones. In fact, Lorenz jokingly referred to his own voice as a "lyric timbre". He was born in 1901 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Early Years and Career
Lorenz studied music, particularly singing, in Berlin during the 1920s. He made his stage debut in Dresden in 1927. As a young artist, he quickly gained recognition as a strong heroic Wagnerian tenor, and later received applause from audiences in the best European opera houses. In 1930, Lorenz appeared at the Bayreuth Festival, where he became known for his unforgettable performances as Tristan and Siegfried. Alongside his work at the Dresden State Opera, Lorenz also performed at various opera venues, including the Berlin State Opera and the Vienna State Opera. Additionally, he became a regular participant at the Bayreuth Festival. Lorenz gained the most fame for his interpretations of the roles of Tannhäuser, Tristan, and, of course, Siegfried - contemporaries even referred to him as the "greatest adornment of Wagnerian celebrations".
Artistic Achievements and Personal Life
Lorenz was practically unmatched among his contemporaries, except for the legendary Danish tenor Lauritz Melchior. Wagner and opera enthusiasts today still debate who performed Wagner better - Melchior or Lorenz. Lorenz performed in Wagnerian productions at the renowned Metropolitan Opera in New York for several seasons.
In addition to Wagnerian roles, Lorenz's repertoire included numerous roles in operas by Richard Strauss and Giuseppe Verdi. The peak of his artistic career came in the 1930s, but by the late 1940s, Lorenz's voice began to lose its strength and beauty.
Lorenz's opera career ended in 1960 when he performed the role of Herod in Richard Strauss' "Salome". Regarding his personal life, many aspects of Lorenz's story are truly remarkable. When the Nazi regime came to power in Germany, he was married to a Jewish woman, Charlotte (Lotte) Appel, while also being openly homosexual. How did he manage to survive and even have a successful singing career? Lorenz did not follow the example of many of his colleagues and did not emigrate. Furthermore, he did not intend to hide himself, his wife Lotte, or his extramarital relations. Lorenz could not imagine himself away from German opera, German culture, and the German-speaking environment. He tried to stay away from politics and, in addition, benefited from the patronage of high-ranking officials who somehow managed to reconcile the Nazis with his wife and his extramarital relationships. However, there was another side to this coin - he felt a certain coldness, sometimes bordering on dislike, from artists who suffered under the Nazi regime, due to his reputation as a "favorite of Hitler".
Regardless, it is impossible to overlook Max Lorenz's contribution to the opera world, especially the Wagnerian repertoire. The exceptional tenor passed away in 1975 in Salzburg. There are relatively few recordings left behind by Lorenz.
