This album's production was generously sponsored and supported by Mercedes and Sid R. Bass, Mrs. Marina Kellen French, Baroness Nina von Maltzahn, and Peter and Sarah Solmssen.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wagner believed that the Italian style of singing was not suitable for the German language, which he described as having mostly short vowels and many consonants.
Interpretation
René Pape, the bass singer, agrees with Lilli Lehmann, a celebrated soprano who worked with Wagner, that knowing how to sing Mozart is essential for singing Wagner.
Performer Biography
René Pape, the bass singer on this album, was born in Dresden and had to learn Russian in school during the GDR years, though he initially disliked the language.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wagner did not distinguish between 'declaimed' and 'sung' phrases in his operas, stating that his declamation was singing and his singing was declamation.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Richard Wagner, the composer, aimed to create a 'German bel canto' that combined the mellifluousness of Italian vocalism with a delivery conveying the true sense of the drama.
Recording & Production
The recording for this album took place in June 2010 at Funkhaus Berlin Nalepastraße, Saal 1, and was recorded and mastered by Emil Berliner Studios.
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