With this stellar cast: Max Lorenz Maria Reining Alda Noni Irmgard Seefried Paul Schöffler Erich Kunz, Alfred Muzzarelli, Elisabeth Rutgers, Emmy Loose Dir: Karl Böhm Vienna State Opera Orchestra The stars were in alignment for Strauss's 80th birthday. According to a Time magazine article from 1944, the Nazis were intent on punishing the 80 year old Richard Strauss for consorting with and attempting to protect Jews (his daughter-in-law, her mother, and his grandchildren). The plan was to punish Strauss, denying him the festivities the Reich's most famous composer merited on this important birthday. They reconsidered when it became clear that ignoring Strauss, their most internationally celebrated composer, might not look good to the watching world. Plus, the Nazis would be missing a valuable propaganda opportunity. In this live 1944 recording, Max Lorenz demonstrates why he was Hitler's favorite heldentenor, and why Bayreuth could not function without him. He sings in tune, doesn't sound strained, and has a big, beautiful open sound that he maintains control over. His vocal resonance and amplitude are unbelievable. Especially in the finale, he sings like a god. While the birthday performance came off magnificently, Strauss was ultimately unable to save a family member, the grandmother of his daughter-in-law, who perished in the camps.
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