Product Description Max Lorenz was at the height of his career as a heldentenor in 1941. As a homosexual with a Jewish wife in Nazi Germany, who also protected his wife s mother, he would have faced deportation. However, as Hitler s favourite tenor and a symbol of his times, he was able to survive due to the protection of Hitler and Göring. This gripping, well-researched documentary which is nominated for the FIPA festival boasts original footage of Max Lorenz, Haus Wahnfried and Hitler s visits to Bayreuth (e.g. the first coloured picture of Hitler). Includes interviews with great artists such as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and René Kollo. Includes a bonus CD with previously unreleased material of Max Lorenz. Review In this 2008 documentary for Swiss television, producers Eric Schulz and Claus Wischmann take a fascinating look at the principal German heldentenor of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. The documentary analyzes the way the Third Reich combined its own heroic ideal and its attitude to the Wagnerian operas. It also seeks answers about Lorenz's career and complications caused by his private life. In public Lorenz was out-going, exuberantly secure, but privately he was plagued by insecurity, inhibitions and shyness. He also was married to a Jew and was homosexual, a fact that had to be hidden from Hitler. Winifred Wagner's intercession on behalf of Lorenz and his wife allowed both to continue unharassed. The episode of Lady Chichester is smilingly revealed. Archival footage from four decades gives glimpses of Bayreuth and its Wagner Festival, the political machinations of the time, eyewitness accounts from colleagues and interviews with Lorenz. A treasure trove of photographs illustrates the story. Commentary (in German) by singers Hilde Zadek, Dietrich Fischer- Dieskau, Waldemar Kmentt, and Rene Kollo are supplemented by insights by Walter Herrmann (Lorenz's biographer), Klaus Geitel, and Michael Wessolowski, writers on music, and dancer Lieslott Tietjen. The narration is in English with subtitles for the interviews. A 74 minute CD is included of Lorenz at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires at the height of his powers (1938). From Siegfried Lorenz is heard in the complete first act and excerpts from Act 2. The sound is quite wretched sometimes, but well worth the trouble. -- American Record Guide, Charles H Parsons, May/June 2009Max Lorenz (1901-75) was a great Wagnerian heldentenor in Nazi-era Germany--a favorite of Hitler and many of his top lieutenants. Lorenz also happened to be a homosexual with a Jewish wife (when Lorenz was brought up on charges for a dalliance with a young man, the highest authorities intervened to block the prosecution, and when the SS tried to arrest his wife and mother-in-law, Hermann Goering himself gave the order to desist). As Eric Schulz and Claus Wischmann's documentary makes clear, however, Lorenz was first and foremost an extraordinary actor-singer who practically owned the role of Siegfried in the 1930s. Combining extensive archival stills and footage together with recordings of Lorenz in his prime and excerpts from a late-in-life interview, Wagner's Mastersinger presents a remarkably thorough and insightful portrait of the life and career of Lorenz, peppered with appreciative comments from great singers--soprano Hilde Zadek, tenors Waldemar Kmentt and René Kollo, and baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau--as well as dancer Lieselott Tietjen, biographer Walter Herrmann, and writers Klaus Geitel and Michael Wessolowski. Presented in PCM stereo, the DVD is bundled with an audio CD featuring excerpts from a 1938 Buenos Aires performance of Wagner's Siegfried with Lorenz. Highly recommended. -- Video Librarian, Frank Swietek, May/June 2009Wagner's Mastersinger: Hitler's Siegfried is the intriguing if not provocative title of The Life and Times of Max Lorenz (Medici Arts, EuroArts, 2056928 DVD+CD). Born in 1901, Max Lorenz's career is traced from choir boy to super-star in Bayreuth and elsewhere during the 1930s and beyond. Intriguing films of his Siegfried give credence to his reputation as the heldentenor of the era. Film and narration together with comments by his contemporaries describe his social life with the in-crowd in Bayreuth. His wife was Jewish and he stood with her, despite the Nazis. He was shielded by Winifred Wagner who used her influence with Hitler on his behalf. But fame is fleeting. Lorenz sang his last Tristan in Dresden in 1960. Waldemar Kmentt recalls that "After his final performance at The Vienna Opera they just let him go home as if nothing had happened. No one from the management came to give him a proper send-off. I felt deeply ashamed for the Vienna Opera." There are trailers of scenes from four Wagner music-dramas on the DVD featuring latter day heldentenors in leading roles that, perhaps unintentionally, confirm Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau's summing-up, "Today you won't find anyone who could hold a candle to him. No one. Hot air, that's all." The accompanying CD contains a document of Lorenz at his best. Extensive excerpts from Siegfried are conducted by Erich Kleiber, recorded in the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires on October 4, 1938 with Max Lorenz, Erich Witte, Herbert Janssen and Emanuel List -- The Wholenote, Bruce Surtees, April 29, 2009
R**R
Reminds us what a real Heldentenor is
I would have given this item five stars were it not for the audio bonus, a live first act of Siegfried with wretched sound.The title is also unfortunate as Lorenz is revealed as a warm human being who protected his Jewish wife and her familyas well as numerous other artists during that very difficult time. The footage of the inimitable Lorenz is accompaniedby glowing tributes from such major artists as Hilde Zadek, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Rene Kollo, and Waldemar Kmennt,who are much more positive about Lorenz's clarion open-throated technique than many critics of his recordings have been.Personally, I find his true tenor voice better suited to roles such as Tristan than such famous Wagnerians as Melchior andVinay with their baritonal quality. The documentary includes a death scene from Otello with piano accompaniment sung byan aged Lorenz that is unforgettably heartbreaking. With a few notable exceptions, we have had to settle in recent years fortenors better suited to Tamino attempting to get through Siegfried. Lorenz reminds us of what a true Heldentenor sounds like.
D**D
A Glimpse into Hitler's Germany
This is a fascinating document that left me wanting more, more footage, more singing, background. Lorenz was a fascinating complex man who in spite of being married to a Jew and a practicing "bi-sexual" he was able to remain in Nazi Germany without any persecution to him, his wife and his mother-in-law! He was apparently caught "in flagrante" and his crimianal prosecution was announced. Obviously his presence at Bayreuth was in doubt. Winifred advised that the festival would have to close down without Lorenz; this was sufficient to provide him with protection until after the war.Fischer-Dieskau, Hilda Zakek, Rene Kollo and Waldemar Knmett (sp?) offer their observations and it is fascinating to watch Kollo mouth the text as Lorenz sings. The author of a biography of the artist is also present to offer his observations. It is highly unlikely that this book will ever see an English translation.Medici Arts also provice a recording the of Act I Siegfried the sound of which is poor. Would that a better memorial of his art could have been chosen. Even so I recommend this DVD for its many virtues.
J**S
fascinating
fascinating disquieting video, a great musical career in the time and country ofHitler
R**I
Hitler loved Wagnerian tenors more than he hated the Jewish and gay folks.
Who knew that Hitler loved Wagner's music and the annual festival that he could overlook the fact that Max Lorenz was a gay man AND that he was married to a Jewish wife. It is an amazing story with interviews of several Wagnerian Tenors and other persons who were there when all this happened in the early to mid-Nazi era.
P**E
Heldentenor like no other.
He was the great Siegfried of the thirties and lasted thru the fifties. He is remembered by his friends in this video and placed in historical context of WWII Germany, and he sang thru the war. I admire him greatly and you will too, so get a copy for yourself, if you love Wagner as I do.
B**Y
Fascinating release
This release includes a fascinating video on the life and artistry of Max Lorenz, plus a CD of excerpts of him singing in a Buenos Aires (Teatro Colon) SIEGRIED from 1938 (under Erich Kleiber), never before released on CD, to my knowledge. Interviews with such singers as Dietrich Fiescher-Dieskau and stunning clips of Lorenz at Bayreuth are included. Highly recommended for a better understanding of a significant, but often misunderstood, artist.
J**Z
INteresting
The story of this singer is interersting. but I was hoping the material wounld contain quite a bit more of orchestral or singing pieces. Perhaps I misread the previous comments.
J**L
EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY
A VERY INTERESTING AND EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY OF MAX LORENZ AND THE TIME IN WHICH HE LIVED. MUSICAL SELECTIONS ARE EXCELLENT AND EVEN HIS PERFORMANCES IN OLD AGE.
D**S
Worth it, though DVD is not very long
Fascinating - the DVD isn't more than 50+ minutes, but what minutes! They take you to Bayreuth in the early 30s, that horrible, wonderful place. Magnificent to hear and see Lorenz in full trumpet cry. My only caveat is that the writeup and title make Lorenz sound much more complicit than he truly was with Hitler's regime. Actually, as a bisexual with a Jewish wife, he was nearly a persecuted victim of the regime, protected only by Winifred Wagner's influence with Hitler. The DVD includes a tiny clip of her famous interview given int eh 1980s, usually unobtainable except in German. But htough it's interesting, what's really fascinating is the Wagner issues.
U**T
Max Lorenz
Hvad kan jeg sige . som Heltetenor selv. er han stemme mæssigt mit forbilled.Han er en bedre Heltetenor end min landsmand Melchior.Max Lorenz's Tannhäuser bliver aldrig overgået. Hans stemme er ud over den er Kollosal Stor . Så har den noget søgende i sig i den Siegfried indspilling som medfølger DVDénSådan er hans Tristan også.Melchior bulder bare frem med fuld stemme. Franz Völker er ,min ynglings Lohengrin. Hør den optagelse fra Bayreuth 1931 Furtwängler diregere Bayreuth Festspiele Ork.Det er så skønt. Selv om Tannhäuser M.Lorenz + Lohengrin F.Völker kun er i uddrag.så findes der mange komplette Tristan und Isolde med Max Lorenz .En fra 1941 der er god lyd og en fra 1949 der er super lyd.Hør dem også.
M**T
MAGNIFIQUE
Ceux qui désirent voir et connaitre un vrai HELDENTENOR wagnérien se doivent de regarder ce DVD. L a magni ficence de la voix de MAX LORENZ est quelque chose de tres rare et en ce sens je déteste le qualificatif qu'on a collé à sa personne après la 2eme guerre mondiale ( HITLER' S SIEGFRIED ). C 'est d'une stupidité énorme , lancée vraisemblablement par quelque jaloux grincheux. Pour en revenir à ce DVD on assiste - c'est un peu court mais c'est déjà bien- à l'éclosion puis l'envol de cet artiste qui ne fait qu'un avec son chant ; et l'interprétation est phénoménale. Sans oublier qu'il s'est toujours comporté , pendant cette affreuse période du fascisme, avec courage, honneur et sans compromission avec les fascistes du moment. Le CD n'est pas à la hauteur du DVD ce qui est surprenant car on sait parfaitement ""remastérisé "" de tels enregistrements qui n'ont pas été correctement réalisés à l'époque. Je viens d'écouter un enregistrement avec LORENZ du GOTTERDAMERUNG de 1952 dirigé par J. KEILBERTH à BAYREUTH ( CLA 10126 2 de ZYX MUSIC ) ou sa voix est encore exceptionnelle. Cela montre bien qu'on peut si on veut transmettre convenablement les voix du passé.
T**E
max lorenz...hitlers siegfried
Wie unglaublich.....der letzte, echte,Wahre Heldentenor!!!!!!!Maestro Wagner hätte seine totale Freude mit welcher Inbrunst,Leidenschaft,unauslöschlichem Feuer,Erdigkeit,Kraft & Energie ohne Ende.....&&&&&Dem Himmel oder auch was auch immer...sei DANK !!! Was für ein kostbares Geschenk.Maxe, Schade,daß ich nicht zu dEINER Zeit lebte.Ich hätte sehr viel lernen können.Gut,daß es die Konserve gibt.Was gibt es heute in der Welt der wahren Helden.....nichts als Luft...pure Luft,um mit den waisen Worten von Meister Fischer-Dieskau zu zitieren.....Wiiiiiiie recht er hat. pt
M**R
documentaire exceptionnel
Ce film est un documentaire exceptionnel sur Max Lorenz, qui ne se sert pas de vieux clichés et qui cherche a restaurer une vérité sur la vie à Bayreuth durant la guerre. C'est un très beau et très instructif travail. Il est indispensable comme document pour les "wagnériens"
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