"Leb`wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind" from Die Walküre by Richard Wagner (1813-1883) George London (Wotan) London Symphony Orchestra Erich Leinsdorf, conductor London IX.1961
George London was one of the greatest Wagnerian singers of all time. His voice had a terrific, ringy edge while maintaining a full, robust color of sound. No one cut through Wagner's orchestra better. We haven't had anyone of this caliber in some time. It is a shame that he struggled with vocal and medical issues. He stands among the very finest Wotans of all eras.
@@tomkorbuszewski617 wait now, this is the guy you’re comparing favorably to George London? 🫤 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-I-lSAIovoUo.html
London was simply magnificent. It's a huge powerful sound with an edge that cuts through the thickest orchestral texture, yet remains round and beautiful. Beneath it all is a wonderful legato line, near-perfect diction and amazing power. To me, he dwarfs any other Wotan. They sound like children in comparison. There will never be another George London.
The only Wotans I would accept next to London are Alexander Kipnis and Ferdinand Frantz, both long dead. I was never much into Hans Hotter; he lost voice control early and developed an unpleasant wobble.
Such a glorious bass-baritone, huge full power, voluminous yet vibrant and deeply soaked with finest lyricism. Where can we land another glory close to this!!!! Love this best Wotan deeply...
Truly heart-stopping. Without a doubt one of the greatest performances I've ever heard and I've heard a lot. This is the Mary Poppins performance of Leb Wohl... PRACTICALLY PERFECT IN EVERY WAY
!!!! un des rares vrais WOTAN !!!!! magnifique !!!!! les "helden baryton" manquent de nos jours ...... bravo aux anciens...... gardiens de l'art du chant !!
George London brings tears to my eyes when I listen to his Wotan. There are, and never will be, better than he. I have sung in many Wagnerian concerts and operas, and also with David Ward in Scottish Opera. Hans Hotter said of David that he would be a better Wotan than he himself. Sadly, David died before this could be proved. George London was the greatest Wotan - and all other Wagnerian roles. Thank God for his recordings - for us in which to wallow and weep. Josephine Allen-Kemper - G.S.M. & D. Gold Medalist
***** Hi Kaiserinbeatrix. I am sorry. I have tried to be opened minded, and open eared(!), but Frantz just doesn't get anywhere near London in regards to vocalism and interpretation of this most important scene. Wotan is not even in Frantz's fach. He is often off pitch (which wouldn't be too hard since he recorded this in Vienna with its higher pitch tunings). Frantz also scoops up into notes which is a very bad habit. He doesn't have the same stamina for Wotan as George London. Frantz is SO tired by the end that he is manipulating vowels to try and retain some semblance of proper phonation. If you are trying to find a good Wotan interpreter who sounds like Frantz try the New Zealander Donald McIntyre. There are audio and video recordings of him on RU-vid.
I remember auditioning for George London when I first started out and how wonderful he was. He gave me great encouragement while also telling me that I had a great voice, but that I was lazy and had to crack the books and the world would hear from me. I took his advice. He was a great artist, a wonderful human being. We will not hear the likes of him again. What a magnificent fiery and passionate voice
If God will allow George London to sing this to me in heaven, I will never commit another sin in my life... And that's almost as impossible as how gloriously beautiful this voice and performance is. Everything about it is perfect. This rolling and passionately brilliant vocal sound accompanied by a perfect orchestra... I cannot stop listening to this performance. I'm a musician and have heard some unbelievable performances in the past, but this is at the top of my list and definitely would be counted on the fingers of one hand.... not including the thumb. TRANSCENDANT
He directed the Ring in Seattle when my wife was a Rhinemaiden. He had lost his voice when a doctor injected something into the chords intending for a benefit which turned into a tragedy. What an incredible experience it was to hear him sing before that error.
His voice had already deteriorated due to vocal paresis. I believe when this was recorded he already had received the diagnosis. I don't like the singing. To me it sounds forced and unpleasant. Perhaps that's because he was already struggling against the paralysis ( one can sing with one vocal cord paralyzed)
8:18: 'So küsst er die Gottheit von dir'. My favorite moment in a whole bushel of beautiful moments. Many of my favorite Ring moments involve Wotan: his hymn of praise to Valhalla ('Vollendet das ewige Werk!') from Rheingold, his longing for death ('Das Ende! Das Ende!') and the Abschied from Walküre, his ultimate defeat ('Zieh' hin! Ich kann dich nicht halten!') from Siegfried, and his final, unseen appearance in Waltraute's narration ('...erlöst wär' Gott und Welt!') from Götterdämmerung. What a magnificent musico-dramatic creation he is.
The greatest and most tragic of all Wotans George London is. (nod to Yoda given Luke and Leia and Siegmund and Sieglinde... although to his credit Luke stopped when he found out Leia was his twin sister). This has to be one of the greatest recordings (if not the greatest) ever made of Leb Wohl at the end of "Die Walkyrie" and without a doubt the greatest of all Wotans. There has never been a voice of Wotan able to cut through 100+ instruments like this Wotan. His voice Pierces and cuts through that massive Wagnerian Orchestra like the fabled sword Notung itself. It's a crime that so few people have ever heard of him and a tragedy that his voice was lost from a paralyzed vocal cord via treatments from the Dark Ages. But at least we have this recording!
Für mich der beste Wotan, welch ein wunderbarer Heldenbariton- unvergeßlich !! So muß Richard Wagner sich die stimmliche Interpretation wohl vorgestellt haben.
This is incredible... I'm a Barytone myself and sang the flying Dutchman and hope to sing this, too... London and Jerome Hines are my absolute favourites. Just fantastic singing. Unfortunately we do hear this kind of singing seldom nowadays.
Text: "Leb wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind! Du meines Herzens heiligster Stolz! Leb wohl! Leb wohl! Leb wohl! Muß ich dich meiden, und darf nicht minnig mein Gruß dich mehr grüßen; sollst du nun nicht mehr neben mir reiten, noch Met beim Mahl mir reichen; muß ich verlieren dich, die ich liebe, du lachende Lust meines Auges: ein bräutliches Feuer soll dir nun brennen, wie nie einer Braut es gebrannt! Flammende Glut umglühe den Fels; mit zehrenden Schrecken scheuch es den Zagen; der Feige fliehe Brünnhildes Fels! Denn einer nur freie die Braut, der freier als ich, der Gott! Der Augen leuchtendes Paar, das oft ich lächelnd gekost, wenn Kampfeslust ein Kuß dir lohnte, wenn kindisch lallend der helden Lob von holden Lippen dir floß dieser Augen strahlendes Paar, das oft im Sturm mir geglänzt, wenn Hoffnungsehnen das Herz mir sengte, nach Weltenwonne mein Wunsch verlangte aus wild webendem Bangen: zum letzten Mal letz' es mich heut mit des Lebewohles letztem Kuß! Dem glücklichem Manne glänzte sein Stern: dem unseligen Ew'gen muß es scheidend sich schließen. Denn so kehrt der Gott sich dir ab, so küßt er die Gottheit von dir! Loge, hör! Lausche hieher! Wie zuerst ich dich fand, als feurige Glut, wie dann einst du mir schwandest, als schweifende Lohe; wie ich dich band, bann ich dich heut! Herauf, wabernde Lohe! Umlodre mir feurig den Fels! Loge! Loge! Hieher! Wer meines Speeres Spitze fürchtet, durchschreite das Feuer nie!"
@Barone Vitellio Scarpia OH GOD this little bitch is everywhere bullshitting about Hans Hotter, fuck you bitch, hiding behind the keyboard and acting like an expert huh??????
@Barone Vitellio Scarpia Sotin was a marvelous (and underrated) bass - particularly in such roles as Landgraf, Gurnemanz etc. - but far too low a voice for Wotan, a quintessentially bass-baritone role.
Lieber George, warum musstest Du so früh von uns gehen? Deine wunderbare Stimme, die deutliche Aussprache, jedes Wort konnte man verstehen. Die tolle Darstellung. Und zu all dem warst Du ein großartiger Mensch
What an experience would it have been to have heard this live!!! I was born a generation later..... Don't get me wrong, I appreciate our current Wotans and the interpretations and quality they give. Maestro London, and Maestro Leinsdorf got it right. It was a different time and era. "Leb wohl", and "Der augen leuchtendes paar", and "Denn so kehrt der Gott sich dir ab, so küsst er die Gottheit von dir!" Forget it..... TEARS for DAYS!!!!
Danke für das Video! Ich habe George persönlich gut gekannt. Er war ein wunderbarer Sänger und ein lebenswerter Mensch! Leider ist er viel zu früh verstorben.!!! Er war auch ein ein großartiger Boris und ein wunderbarer Don Giovanni, ein so glaubhafter Mandrika und, und, und. Er hat leider auch keinen wirklichen Nachfolger !!!
London, Hotter, Ridderbusch (when he felt like singing) Great. Such emotion pours from this dramatic sound from London. And his conductor here is wonderful; he waits for the emotion and where is there a more emotional moment in Wagner?
Suddenly this performance is overshadowing every other of my favourites. Its perfect in every way and I'm going to investigate other recordings of Leinsdorf conducting Wagner. There is a tremendous tension and momentum with tenderness in the detail.
@@kymanthony4319 Born in Canada born to naturalized U. S citizen parents, but grew up in Los Angeles, and was apparently "registered at birth as a US citizen".
Magnificent performance indeed, far superior to Hotter's barking. My favourite Wotan is Thomas Stewart, a smaller voice but more sensitive interpretation. I'd love to have London handy on the shelves, though.
Such a tragedy that Decca didn't use London instead of Hotter, who was past his prime, in their famous recording of "Die Walkure" with the VPO cond Georg Solti. However, I understand that he suffered vocal problems around the time of this recording so maybe he was scheduled to record but had to cancel.
Hotter had already recorded the Siegfried with Solti over three years earlier so he was probably intended for the Walkure as well. London does however star in the Solti Rheingold recorded in 1958.
Insuperable Leinsdorf y George London .......Todo está Aquí Wotan a su predilecta hija Brunilda y el Fuego como Arco Purificador: ".......Adíos, osada esplendida niña......" Insuperable Amor a la Vida Nada lo Supera .......ni mi penúltimo pollazo a una dulce mujer
I agree completely with your view of Terfel's Wotan. And yes he does have a Welsh ring to his voice. Now you have mentioned it I can't escape hearing it. He is good, but not in the class of the great Wotans. London is great, as are Tomlinson, Hotter (Culshaw's 58-66 Ring), Pape etc.
London's greatness is beyond doubt. In terms other Wotans, I have seen a 1/2 dozen or more and was moderately impressed with James Morris. Does anyone know if John Tomlinson has regarded Wotan? I think he is a wonderful singer but never seems to get any leading parts....
