Hildegard Behrens as Ortrud

[Hans Christian Hoff]

Hildegard Behrens has been announced as Ortrud in three performances of
Lohengrin at the Norwegian Opera in Oslo in March (with Carsten Stabell as
King Henry and Roland Wagenführer as Lohengrin. Does anyone know if she has
ever sung the role before (in Operabase she is listed only in soprano roles)
?

Regards

Hans

[MyddeltonSys]

Dear Hans

I believe this will be her debut as Ortrud.

Jon Wright, London

[EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)]

It seems to be the thing, nowadays, for once reigning sopranos to switch
to mezzo roles as age makes the high notes too chancy. (I'm not sure
how old Beherens is, but she's certainly been around for quite a long
time.)

> ?
>
> Regards
>
> Hans

[Trev(UK)]

but is Ortrud really a mezzo role? It goes pretty high in her duet with Elsa
! We are scheduled to have Waltraud Meier as Ortrud to Melanie Diener`s Elsa
in a few months` time. should be interesting!
Trev
"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evg...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
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[Daniel Kessler]

I think she's had it. Didn't she drop out of some Salzburg produciton also?

[EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)]

Well, with Wagner it's sometimes hard to tell, since nearly all his
female roles are for "meaty" voices, and the high notes generally do not
extend into the stratosphere. However, I think Ortrud is generally
considered a mezzo role. (Dunno what the score says, since I gave my
library to a mezzo who is still singing.) I envy you Waltraud Meier -
she's a fine actress, so should do a memorable performance.

[J.Venning]

Yes, Ortrud is a mezzo role, but it does make heavy demands of the mezzo,
with high B-flats and all, so opera houses occasionally cast dramatic
sopranos in the role.
J.

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evg...@earthlink.net> wrote in message

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[Amanda]

She's somewhere around 66 by now and she's been taking on a lot of new
roles, some of which I can only guess as to why. Hanna in The Merry
widow, for example, in which she seems to be dressed as a man. It's
quite true that by now the bloom is somewhat off the rose but it's my
understanding that Ortrud is one of those roles where sopranos go to
die, but I could be wrong, having only heard Lohengrin once.

Amanda, a serious Behrens fan

[Rubberband Girl]

In a score belonging to a friend of mine, Ortrud is listed as contralto
(?!?!?!).

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evg...@earthlink.net> wrote in message

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[Parterrebox]

> (Dunno what the score says, since I gave my library to a mezzo who is still
singing.)

The score says "soprano" though it's a tricky part for any voice, high or low.
Probably the most fully realized Ortruds we have on recordings are Varnay
(soprano) and Ludwig (high mezzo).

Deborah Polaski was the Ortrud in the last Met revival of the opera: soprano.

[Alcindoro]

Whatever she is, Ortrud is definitely NOT to be automatically thought of as a
role for a singer of waning powers. It is NOT a character part but a demanding
sing for whoever does it -- as was said to me by both Rysanek and Marton,
neither of them slouches in the part.

[Richard Loeb]

Yep one thing Ortrud must be is insinuating - the other is LOUD!!!!
"Alcindoro" <alci...@aol.com> wrote in message
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[Alcindoro]

>Yep one thing Ortrud must be is insinuating - the other is LOUD!!!!<

Hmmm... "Aye, there's the rub!" How is one both insinuating AND loud? Takes
an artist in full command of their powers to do this.

[J.Venning]

The Peters vocal score casts Ortrud as soprano, but Kobbé's Complete Opera
Book casts her as mezzo. Here at the Danish Royal Opera, the only mezzo who
sang the role was Susanne Resmark, last season. Ever since this production
had its premiere in '82, it has always been a dramatic soprano who took on
the role, the best of whom was definitely Lone Koppel.
J.

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