"Zoppot: Bayreuth of the North": new historical Wagner
Jonathan Brown
who appeared at the curious forest opera festival by the Baltic Sea
from 1909 to 1944 - more than 5 and a half hours of singing.
None of the singers seems to have been recorded at Sopot, where the
Sopot Forest Theatre's Wagner Festival was held from 1922 to 1944. The
notes accompanying the set tell a strange tale of opera in the forest,
and its demise when the Russians invaded it and the area became part
of Poland. Siegfried was performed in the best imaginable setting.
The CDs contain some recycled excerpts, many from Preiser's own
treasure chest of reissues, but some wholly new historical recordings
too. The contents are listed below.
Now I'm off to listen.
Jonathan Brown
===============================
"Zoppot - Das Bayreuth des Nordens und seine Sänger"
Lebendige Vergangenheit 89406 (4 CDs) (2000)
CD I
CORNELIS BRONSGEEST (1878-1957)
Das Nachtlager in Granada: Ein Schutz bin ich (Kreutzer)
Recorded in 1910 Parlophon P. 326 (2-364)
CLAIRE DUX (1885-1967)
Konigskinder: Sieh her, ob mir Hunger die Glieder entziert
(Humperdinck)
Recorded in 1911 Gramophone 043176 (2275 c)
RICHARD TAUBER (1891-1948)
Die verkaufte Braut: Es muss gelingen (Smetana)
Recorded in 1919 Odeon JXX 81030 (XXB 6446)
ALINE SANDEN (1876-1955)
Carmen: Draussen am Wall von Sevilla (Bizet)
Recorded in 1920 Grammophon 14485 (380 at)
CARL GUNTHER (1885-1958)
Bajazzo: Scherzet immer (Leoncavallo)
Recorded in 1922 Grammophon 62405 (1467 ar)
PAUL SCHWARZ (1887-1980)
Bajazzo: O Colombina (Leoncavallo)
Recorded in 1922 Grammophon 14477 (1445 1/2 at)
OTTO GORITZ (1873-1929)
Fidelio: Ha, welch' ein Augenblick (Beethoven)
Recorded in 1911 Victor 64165
ALBERT REISS (1870-1940)
Siegfried: Zwangvolle Plage! Muh' ohne Zweck! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1911 Victor 74235
KARL ARMSTER (1882-1943)
Der fliegende Hollander: Wie aus der Ferne (Wagner)
Recorded in 1913 Favorite-Luxus 2 15072 (392-p)
FRITZ VOGELSTROM (1882-1963)
Siegfried: Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert (Wagner)
Recorded in 1912 Parlophon P. 287 (2-1194)
HEINRICH KNOTE (1870-1953)
Siegfried: Heiss ward mir von der harten Last (Wagner)
Recorded in 1910 Gramophone 042298 (2102 c)
HELENE WILDBRUNN (1882-1972)
Siegfried: Ewig war ich (Wagner)
Recorded in 1920 Grainmophon 043317 (38 ap)
DES I DER ZADOR (1873 1931)
Das Rheingold: Bin ich nun frei? (Wagner)
Recorded in 1909 Gramophone 4-42213 (845 ab)
MELANIE KURT (1880-1941)
Die Walkure: Der Manner Sippe sass hier im Saal (Wagner)
Recorded in 1911 Gramophone 043190 (2390 c)
WERNER ENGEL (1884-?)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Verachtet mir die Meister nicht
(Wagner)
Recorded in 1921 Parlophon P. 1238 (2-5543)
RICHARD SCHUBERT (1885 1959)
Die Walkure: Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Wagner)
Recorded in 1920 Grammophon 65643 (29 an)
GERTRUDE KAPPEL (1984-1971)
Die Walkure: Hojotoho! hojotohol heiaha! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1924 Grammophon unissued (1936 ax)
MARGARETE ARNDT-OBER (1885-1971)
Die Walkure: So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Gottern (Wagner)
Recorded in 1913 Grainophone 043231 (372 al)
FRIDA LEIDER (1888-1975) - FRITZ SOOT (1878-1965)
Die Walkdre: Siegmund! Sieh' auf mich! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1925 Grammophon 72986 (891 az)
ADOLF SCHOPFLIN (1884-1956)
Tannhauser: Gar viel und schon (Wagner)
Recorded c. 1924 unpublished test
JACQUES URLUS (1867-1935)
Gotterdammerung: Brunnhilde! Heilige Brant! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1924 Odeon LXX 80983 (XXB 7099)
ROBERT VOM SCHEIDT (1881-1964)
Tannhauser: Heraus zum Kampfe niit uns allen (Wagner)
Recorded in 1904 G & T 2-42916 (1093 e)
GEORGES BAKLANOFF (1880-1938)
Eugene Onegin: Alas, there is no doubt (Tchaikovsky)
Recorded in 1928 Odeon 0-25814 (RO 11 84)
META SEINEMEYER (1895-1929)
Tristan und Isolde: Mild und leise (Wagner)
Recorded in 1928 Parlophon P. 9831 (2-20577)
CD II
HERBERT JANSSEN (1895 1965)
Tannhauser: Blick' ich umber in diesem edlen Kreise (Wagner)
Recorded in 1930 Columbia LX 91 (AX 5705)
LILLY HAFGREN-WAAG (1884-1965)
Tannhauser: Allmachtige Jungfrau, hor' mein Flehen (Wagner)
Recorded in 1920 Grammophon 62348 (252 am & 253 1/2 am)
OTTO HELGERS (1882-1945)
Lohengrin: Mein Herr und Gott (Wagner)
Recorded in 1923 Grammophon 62477 (2079 at)
THEODOR SCHEIDL (1880-1959)
Parsifal: Des Weihgefasses gottlicher Gehalt (Wagner)
Recorded in 1927 Grammophon 66671 (641 bm)
CARL MARTIN OEHMANN (1887-1967)
Lohengrin: Mein lieber Schwan (Wagner)
Recorded in 1927 Parlophon P. 9805 (2 20525)
RUDOLF RITTER (1878-1966)
Siegfried: Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert' (Wagner)
Recorded in 1923 Vex 03468 (1291 A)
EMANUEL LIST (1890-1967)
Gotterdammerung: Hier sitz' ich zur Wacht (Wagner)
Recorded in 1928 Parlophon P. 9364 (2-21057)
NANNY LARSEN-TODSEN (1884 1982) ERIK ENDERLEIN (1887-?)
Gotterdammerung: Helle Wehr, heilige Waffe (Wagner)
Recorded in 1928 HMV unissued (CLR 3969-1)
MARTIN ABENDROTH (1883-?)
Die Zauberflote: O Isis und Osiris (Mozart)
Recorded in 1928 Homocord 4-8885 (52435)
KARL BRAUN (1886-1960)
Die Walkure: Nicht straf' ich dich erst (Wagner)
Recorded in 1914 Odeon XX 76543 (XXB 6150-2)
FRIEDRICH PLASCHKE (1875-1951)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Was duftet doch der Flieder (Wagner)
Recorded in 1909 Gramophone 042236 (445 m)
LEO SCHUTZENDORF (1886-1931)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Oh, ihr boshafter Geselle (Wagner)
Recorded in 1926 Parlophone E 10542 (2-8905)
JOSEF KALENBERG (1886-1962)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Morgenlich leuchtend (Wagner)
Recorded in 1927 Grammophon 66530 (377 bm)
MAX ROTH (1886-1961)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Verachtet mir die Meister nicht
(Wagner)
Recorded in 1923 Odeon 0-8512 (XXB 6859)
MARIA HUSSA-GREVE (1893-1980)
Carmen: Ich sprach, dass ich furchtlos mich fiihle (Bizet)
Recorded in 1928 HMV EH 135 (CL 3906-11)
WALDEMAR HENKE (1876-1945'?)
Der Freischutz: Schau der Herr mich an als Konig (Weber)
Recorded in 1911 Odeon 51444 (XB 5596)
MAX LORENZ (1901-1975)
Lohengrin: Atmest du nicht mit mir die sussen Dufte (Wagner)
Recorded in 1928 HMV EH 288 (CLR 5082-1)
ELISABETH FRIEDRICH (1893-198 1) - CARL HARTMANN (1895-1969)
Die Walkure: Wehwalt heisst du furwahr? (Wagner)
Recorded in 1933 Odeon 0-1183 (Be 101 90/1)
ERNST OSTERKAMP (1896-1957)
Tannhauser: Ein furchtbares Verbrechen ward begangen (Wagner)
Recorded in 1922 Polyphon 50376 (718 as)
GERTRUD BINDERNAGEL (1894-1932)
Tristan und Isolde: Mild und leise (Wagner)
Recorded in 1932 Telefunken SK 1163 (018458)
CD III
KATE HEIDERSBACH (1897-1979')
Figaros Hochzeit: Hor' mein Flehen, o Gott der Liebe (Mozart)
Recorded in 1930 HMV EG 2172 (BLR 6000-11)
LUDWIG HOFMANN (1895-1963)
Der Freischotz: Schweig, schweig (Weber)
Recorded in 1943 Broadcast Recording
TIANA LEMNITZ (1897-1994)
Der Freischutz: Und ob die Wolke sie verhulle (Weber)
Recorded in 1934 Grammophon 15081 (477 GS)
FRITZ WOLFF (1894-1957)
Lohengrin: Atmest du nicht mit mir die sussen Dufte (Wagner)
Recorded in 1929 Grammophon 66855 (1581 BM)
ERNA BERGER (1900-1990)
Tannhauser: Frau Holda kam aus dem Berg hervor (Wagner)
Recorded in 1930 Columbia LX 86 (AX 5695)
PAUL STIEBER-WALTER (1890-?)
Der fliegende Hollander: Willst jenes Tags (Wagner)
Recorded in 1923 Odeon RXX 80183 (XXB 6905)
LOTTE LEHMANN (1888 -1976)
Lohengrin: Euch Luften, die mein Klagen (Wagner)
Recorded in 1930 Odeon 0-4819 (Be 8884)
HILDE SINGENSTREU (1912-?)
Cavalleria rusticana: Als euer Sohn einst fortzog (Mascagni)
Recorded in 1942 Grammophon 67992
GOTTHELF PISTOR (1887-1947)
Tiefland: Schau her, das ist ein Taler (d'Albert)
Recorded in 1928 Parlophon P. 9228 (2-20557)
WALTER GROSSMANN (1900-1973)
Fidelio: Er sterbe! Doch er soll erst wissen (Beethoven)
with Henriette Gottlieb, Walther Ludwig, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender
Recorded in 1932 HMV DB 4417 (2D 1337-2)
ELISABETH OHMS (1888-1974)
Schmerzen (Wagner)
Recorded in 1929 Grammophon 66929 (806 Bi)
GEORG FASSNACHT (1904-1966)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Morgenlich leuchtend (Wagner)
Recorded in 1949 live
GOTA LJUNGBERG (1893-1955)
Parsifal: Ich sah das Kind an seiner Mutter Brust (Wagner)
Recorded in 1928 HMV D 1651 (Cc 13706-1)
PAUL KOTTER (1898-1974)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Am stillen Herd (Wagner)
Recorded in 1930 Ultraphon E 359 (30415)
MARTIN KREMER (1898-1971)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Am Jordan St. Johannes stand (Wagner)
Recorded in 1938 HMV DB 4563 (2RA 3078-1)
JULIUS POLZER (1901-1972)
Das Rheingold: Ober Stock und Stein zu Tal (Wagner)
Recorded in 1948 Broadcast Recording
ROBERT BURG (1890-1946)
Die Walkure: Der Augen leuchtendes Paar (Wagner)
Recorded in 1927 Parlophon P. 9216 (2-20497)
IVAR ANDRESEN (1896-1940) GOTTHELF PISTOR (1 887 1947)
Parsifal: Vom Bade kehrt der Konig heim (Wagner)
Recorded in 1927 Parlophon P. 9155 (2-20347)
WILLI STORRING (1896-1979)
Siegfried: Schmiede, mein Hammer, ein hartes Schwert (Wagner)
Recorded in 1933 Telefunken F 1361 (019002)
INGER KARTN (1902-1972)
Rienzi: In seiner BlUte bleicht mein Leben (Wagner)
Recorded in 1937 Broadcast Recording
MARGARETE KLOSE (1899-1965)
Rienzi: Wo bin ich? (Wagner)
Recorded in 1937 Broadcast Recording
AUGUST SEIDER (1901-1989)
Rienzi: Allmacht'ger Vater, blick' herab! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1937 Broadcast Recording
EYVIND LAHOLM (1894-1958)
Tannhauser: O Wolfram, der du also sangest (Wagner)
Recorded in 1939 live
CD IV
MARJORIE LAWRENCE (1909-1979)
Die Walkure: Hojotoho! hojotoho! heiaha! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1940 live
JOSEF HERRMANN (1903-1955)
Das Rheingold: Abendlich strahlt der Sonne Auge (Wagner)
Recorded in 1943 Electrola unissued (2RA 5635)
ROBERT HAGER (1898-?)
Euryanthe: So weih'ich mich den Rache gedanken (Weber)
Recorded in 1949 Broadcast Recording
MARGARETE BAUMER (1898-1969) BERND ALDENHOFF (1908-1959)
Tannhauser: Stets sell nur dir mein Lied ertbnen (Wagner)
Recorded in 1948 Broadcast Recording
GUNTHER TREPTOW (1907-1981)
Die Walkure: Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Wagner)
Recorded in 1942 Imperial 014023 (K-C 0263)
HANS HERMANN NISSEN (1896-1980)
Siegfried: Auf wolkigen Hoh'n wohnen die Gotter (Wagner)
Recorded in 1939 HMV DA 4460 (ORA 3799-2)
SVEN NILSSON (1898-1970)
Tannhauser: Noch bleibe denn unausgesprochen (Wagner)
Recorded in 1937 Broadcast Recording
MARIA REINING (1903-1991)
Tannhauser: Zurtick von thin I Nicht ihr seid seine Richter! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1943 Broadcast Recording
MATHIEU AHLERSMEYER (1896-1979)
Die Meistersinger von Ndmberg: Wahn! Wahn! Oberall Wahn! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1949 live
WILHELM SCHIRP (1906-1974)
Der fliegende Holl5nder: Mbgst du inein Kind (Wagner)
Recorded in 1940 Telefunken E 3130 (025189)
ANNY KONETZNI (1902-1968)
Tristan und Isolde: Dein Werk'? O tor'ge Magd! (Wagner)
with Mela Bugarmovic
Recorded in 1940 Broadcast Recording
KARL BUSCHMANN (1900-?) - ELISABETH FRIEDRICH (1893-1981)
Die Walkure: Raste nun hier, gonne dir Ruh'! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1938 Broadcast Recording
HERBERT ALSEN (1906-1978) HERMANN WIEDEMANN (1879-1944)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Seid meiner Treue wohl versehen
(Wagner) with Henk Noort
Recorded in 1937 live from the Salzburg Festival
FERDINAND FRANTZ (1906-1959)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Das schone Fest (Wagner)
Recorded in 1938 Broadcast Recording
MARIELUISESCHILP(1904-?) CARLWESSELY(1908-1946)
Die Meistersinger von Nrnberg: Johannistag (Wagner)
Recorded in 1942 Broadcast Recording
EUGEN FUCHS (1893-197 1)
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Oh, Schuster voll von Ranken ( Wagner)
Recorded in 1938 HMV DB 4567/8 (2RA 3079-2 & 3080-1)
ADOLF VOGEL (1897-1969)
Siegfried: In Wald und Nacht vor Neidhohl' halt' ich Wacht (Wagner)
Recorded in 1949 Broadcast Recording
HEINRICH TESSMER (1894-1960) - EDUARD HABICH (1880-1960)
Siegfried: Wollin schleichst du eilig und schlau'? (Wagner)
Recorded in 1931 HMV DB 1583 (2B 556-11)
HEINZ KRAAYVANGER (1904-1971) - COBA WACKERS (1909-1985)
Siegfried: Freundliches Voglein, dich frage ich nun (Wagner)
Recorded in 1942 Graininophon 67922 (18801/2 GS)
ERNA SCHLOTER (1904-1969) JOACHIM SATTLER(1899-1984)
Siegfried: Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht! (Wagner)
Recorded in 1947 Broadcast Recording
HELENA BRAUN (1903-1990)
Ewig war ich, ewig bin ich (Wagner)
Recorded in 1948 Broadcast Recording
FERDINAND BURGMANN (1904 1987)
Siegfried: Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert! (Wagner)
with Paul Reinecke
Recorded in 1949 Broadcast Recording
Daniel Kessler
Jonathan Brown wrote:
> Preiser have released a formidable 4-CD set of recordings by singers
> who appeared at the curious forest opera festival by the Baltic Sea
> from 1909 to 1944 - more than 5 and a half hours of singing.
>
> None of the singers seems to have been recorded at Sopot, where the
> Sopot Forest Theatre's Wagner Festival was held from 1922 to 1944. The
> notes accompanying the set tell a strange tale of opera in the forest,
> and its demise when the Russians invaded it and the area became part
> of Poland. Siegfried was performed in the best imaginable setting.
>
> The CDs contain some recycled excerpts, many from Preiser's own
> treasure chest of reissues, but some wholly new historical recordings
> too. The contents are listed below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I posted this before on another board but can't remember if I posted it
here. For anyone whose interested, here is a list of performances given
at the Zoppot Waldopera:
Zoppot Waldoper--'forest murmurs' in a real forest...a German counterpart
to the Verona Arena.
Zoppot, with its casinos--the Monte Carlo of the North.
Up to 1914, mostly singers were drawn from small provincial German Opera
Houses and could not be considered to be in the ranks of a glamorous
European opera festival.
Operas performed at the Waldoper, Zoppot, 1909-1942
1901
DAS NACHLAGER VON GRANADA (Kreutzer). With Rose Kleinert, Michael Runkel,
Cornelis Bronsgeest; c.Emil Schwarz
1910
DAS GOLDENE KREUZ (Bruell). With Clarie Dux, Charlotte Uhr, Paul Hocheim,
Conrad Herwart; c. Schwarz
TANNHAEUSER (Act 1&3). With Elisabeth Breuer, Uhr, Richard Merkel,
Bronsgeest, Herwart; c;. Heinz Hess
1911
DAS GOLDENE KREUZ. With Dux, Uhr, Hocheim, Hewart
LOBETANZ (Thuille). With Ella Tordek, Helen Dammau, Hocheim, Carl Baumann,
Jean Mergelkamp, Max Camphausen; c. Hess
1912
THE BARTERED BRIDE. With Uhr. Hocheim, Georg von Westernhagen
HAENSEL UND GRETEL. With Uhr, Westerhagen
1913
DER ZIGEUNERBARON (J. Strauss). With Paula Windheuser, Franziska
Bender-Schaefer, Julie Neuhaus, Hocheim, Albert Herrman, Westerhagen; c.
Hess
1914
DER FREICHUETZ. With Lotte Lehmann, Paula Ulm, Richard Tauber, Benno
Dlabal, Otto Goritz, Georg Zottmayer, Nils Svanfeld, Westernhagen; c. Hess
No operas performed 1915-1919
1920
PAGLIACCI. Cast not available
1921
FIDELIO. With Frida Leider, Hella Boelcke, Paul Papsdorf, Waldemar Henke,
Goritz, Otto Helgers; c. Hess
1922
SIEGFRIED. With Melanie Kurt, Irene Eden/Raina Backhaus, Margaret
Arnt-Ober, Heinrich Knote/Fritz Vogelstrom, Henke, Werner Engel, Desider
Zador, Helgers; c. Hanns Knappertsbusch/Hess
1923 No Festival
1924
DIE WALKUERE. With Leider, Gertrud Geyersbach/Maria Hussa-Greve,
Arndt-Ober, Fritz Soot/Richard Schubert, Friederich Plaschke/Wilhelm
Buers, Helgers; c. Erich Kleiber/Max von Schillings/Karl Tutein
1925
TANNHAUSER. With Geyersbach/Seinemeyer, Leider/Arndt-Ober,
Schubert/Jacques Urlus, Plaschke/Herbert Janssen, Helgers; c. Von
Schillings/Tutein
1926
LOHENGRIN. With Geyersbach/Hussa-Greve, Gertrud
Bindernagel/Arndt-Ober/Bella Fortner-Halbaerth, Soot/Carl Martin-Oehmann,
Max Roth/Theodor Scheidl, Janssen, Helgers, c. Von Schillings/Tutein
1927
GOETTERDAEMMERUNG. With Leider/ Lilly Hafgren-Dinkela,
Geyersbach/Hussa-Greve, Arndt-Ober, Erik Enderlein/Rudolf Ritter/Soot,
Janssen/Roth, Zador, Helgers/Emanuel List/Carl Braun; c. Von
Schillings/Tutein
1928
PARSIFAL. With Goeta Ljungberg/Eugenie Burkhardt, Arndt-Ober,
Soot/Enderliein, Plaschke/Janssen/Roth, Helgers/Bermann Marowski, Zador;
c. Von Schillings/Tutein
1929
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NUERNBERG. With Ljungberg/Haussa-Greve,
Arndt-Ober, Ohmann, Josef Kalenberg, Karl Joeken/Wilhelm Gombert,
Plaschke/Roth, Leo Schuetzendorf/Eduard Habich, Janssen, Marowski/Martin
Abendroth; C. Von Schillings/Tutein
1930
DER FREISCHEUTZ. With Kahe Heidersbach/Tiana Lemnitz, Henny
Neumann-Knapp/Else Blank, Max Lorenz/Gotthelf Pistor, Janssen/Roth, Ludwig
Hoffmann/Adolf Schoepflin, Braun/Marowsky; c. Von Schillings/Tutein
1931
DIE WALKUERE. With Ljungberg/Bindernagel, Elisabeth
Friederich/Hussa-Greve, Arndt-Ober/Elfriede Haberkorn, Soot/Pistor/Carl
Hartmann, Walter Grossmann Roth, List/Braun; c. Von
Schillings/Pfitzner/Tutein
SIEGFRIED. With Bindernagel/Ljungberg, Hella Hochreiter, Arndt-Ober,
Pistor/Soot, Hartmann, Henke, Grossman/Roth Schoepflin, List; c. Von
Schillings/Pfitzner/Tutein.
GOETTERDAEMMERUNG. With Bindernagel/Ljungberg, Geyersbach/Hussa-Greve,
Herta Faust, Arndt-Ober, Haberkorn, Soot/Hartmann, Grossmann/Roth,
Schoepflin, List/Braun; c. Von Schillings/Pfitzner/Tutein
1932
TIEFLAND. With Bindernagel/Elisabeth Ohms, Else Blank, Pistor, George
Baklanoff, Schoepflin; c. Tutein
LOHENGRIN. With Lehmann/Geyersbach, Bindernagel/Ohms/Arndt-Ober, Eyvind
Laholm/Fritz Wolff/Pistor, Janssen, Hoffmann/Schoepflin; c. Karl
Elmendorff/Tutein
1933
FIDELIO. With Ohms/Burkhardt, Erna Berger/Blank, Kalenberg, Joeken,
Braun/Hoffmann, Janssen, Schoepflin; c. Tutein
TANNHAEUSER. With Ljungberg, Ohms, /Burkhardt, Berger/Hartmann/Kalenberg,
Janssen, Braun/Hoffmann/Schoepflin; c. Tutein/Robert Heger
1934
DIE WALKUERE. With Nanny Larsen-Todsen, Rosalind von Schirach/Maria
Reining, Arndt-Oberet/Haberkorn, Wolff/Ohmann, Roth/Hoffmann; c.
Tutein/Heger
DIE MEISTERSINGER. With Reining/von Schirach/Elsa Wieber, Arndt-Ober/Maria
Kleffel, Paul Koetter/Wolff/Ohmann, Joeken, Roth, Hoffmann/Schoepflin,
Hermann Wiedemann, Victor Hospach; c. Heger
1935
DIE MEISTERSINGER. With Heidersbach/Wieber, Arndt-Ober, August
Seider/Pistor, Robert Burg/Roth, Sven Nilsson/Ivar Andresen, Martin
Kremer, Wiedemann, Fleischer/Hans Heinz Wunderlich; c. Heger
RIENZI. With Vera Mansinger/Wieber, Heidersbach/Backhaus, Margarete
Klose/Arndt-Ober, Wili Stoerring/Pistor, Nilsson/Burg, Wiedermann; c.
Tutein
1936
RIENZI. With Hilde Singenstreu/Mansinger, Blank, Arndt-Ober, Pistor/Georg
Fassnacht, Nilsson, Hospach; c. Tutein
PARSIFAL. With Ljungberg/Inger Karen, Julius Poelzer/Hartmann,
Roth/Janssen, Andresen/Nilsson/Hospach, Hospach/Schoepflin, Walter
Finder/Hospach; c. Heger/Tutein
1937
PARSIFAL. With Karen, Pistor/Hartmann, Roth/Grossmann, Nilsson/Andresen,
Wiedemann/Hospach, Findel/Wiedemann; c. Tutein
LOHENGRIN. With Lemnitz/Faust, Karen, Ljungberg,
Laholm/Pistor,Roth/Grossmann, Nilsson/Hospach, Wiedemann/Hospach; c.
Heger/Tutein
1938
LOHENGRIN. With Daga Soederquist/Faust, Karen, Seider/Hartmann, Roth/Hans
Hermann Nissen, Nilsson, Hospach; c. Tutein
DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN. With Marjorie Lawrence, Margaret Baeumer, Faust,
Soederquist, Gurli Svedmann, Arndt-Ober, Blank, Mansinger, Kleffel,
Seider, Pistor, Thorkild Norval, Koetter, Tessmer, Nissen, Roth,
Wiedemann, Nilsson, Hospach; c. Tutein/Heger
1939
DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN. With Helana Braun, Erna Schlueter, Reining,
Faust, Blank, Mansinger, Haberkorn, Karen, Arndt-Ober, Hans Grahl,
Hartmann, Koetter, Tessmer, Roth/Joseph Herrmann, Hans Braun, Wiedemann,
Wilhelm Schirp/Hospach, Nilsson; c. Heger
TANNHAEUSER. With Reining/Faust, Karen, Blank, Hartmann/Bernd
Aldenhoff/Guenther, Treptow, Matthieu Ahlersmeyer/Roth, Nilsson/Schirp,
Hospach, Noval; c. Heger/Tutein
1940
TANNHAEUSER. With Caecile Reich/Reining, Anny Konetzni/KJaren, Ilse
Mentzel, Grahl/Karl Buschmann, Nissen, Nilsson/Ferdinand Frantz, Hospach,
Noval; c. Tutein
DIE FLIEGENDE HOLLAENDER. With Karen/Konetzni, Arndt-Obert,
Grahl/Buschmann, Norval, Nissen/Hermann, Frantz/Nilsson; c. Heger
1941
TANNHAEUSER. With Reich/Faust, Braun/Karen, Gerda Moritz,
Hartmann/Grahl/Joachim Sattler, Roth/Nissen, Nilsson/Frantz; c. Tutein
DIE MEISTERSINGER. With Coba Wackers/Reich/Faust, Arndt-Ober,
Sattler/Grahal, Herrmann/Roth/Nissen, Nilsson/Frantz, Wiedemann/Eugen
Fuchs, Max Osswald, Zoellner; c. Heger
1942
DIE MEISTERSINGER. With Constanze Nettesheim/Wackers, Arndt-Ober, Heinz
Kraayvanger/Satler, Carl Wessely/Kurt Huxdorf, Nissen/Robert Hager,
Nilsson/Frantz, Adolf Vogel/Heinrich Cramer, Zoellner; c. Heger/Tutein/
Franz von Hoesslin
SIEGFRIED. With Karen/Schlueter, Arndt-Ober/Elana Nikoladi, Lea
Piltti/Wackers, Kraayvanger/Hartmann/Satler, Wessely/Huxdorf/Tessmer,
Nissen/Hager, Habich/Cramer, Paul Friebel; c. Tutein/Heger/von Hoesslin.
Of Zapot Waldoper Erich Keliber said:
"The wonder of acoustics of this forest stage enabled every one of the
10,000 visitors even in the most distant corner to understand every word
of the singers. The real mood of all the nocturnal scenes in the forest
could never be reached on a closed stage. And the fresh forest air was so
pleasant for us, musicians and conductor--these were the great advantage
of the Zoppot Waldoper.
Never will I forget one little episode: in one of our performances of
WALKUERE when the voice of the singer sounded with the words 糎ar es so
schmaehlich', unaccompanied by the orchestra, a little bird began to join
Brunnhilde's voice timidly and shyly, but obviously thinking it was time
to sing again!"
Margaret Arndt-Ober (who sang the first Erda at Zoppot and was a member of
the festival cast 1922-43):
"As well as all my colleages I was an enthusiastic supporter of
Waldoper. To me there was no more beautiful thing than the Zoppot stage
in the woods. To mention each isolated effect would take too much space.
But let me say this much: it was an inexpressibly grand feeling to sing in
God's open air, to see no tree smelling of glue and jelly, to swallow no
dust with millions of germs, but to open one's throat and to inhale clear,
pure air into the lungs. I saw some scenes from the auditorium too, and
just as everyone else was obverwhelmed. And then--the acoustics! You
only had to open the mouth, and the tone was ringing over the wide open
spaces. Except for the Metropolitan Opera in New York, which was famous
for its fabulous acoustics, I never met any stage where you could sing so
smoothly and where the voices sounded as well as at Zoppot."
When Hermann Mertz, a former actor in Munich took over as director in the
20's, it was his idea to perform Wagner in a natural surrounding. It was
Mertz who brought in Knappertsbusch and engaged leading Wagnerian
singers. At that time, its only competitors were Bayreuth, Salzburg,
Munich, the Arena di Verona and the new Glyndebourne. Visitors came from
all over the world and even Marjorie Lawrence sang her famous Brunnhilde
there.
Imagine, Fricka's cart pulled by real goats!
Daniel Kessler