Torsten Ralf, Lohengrin, "In fernem Land", Live.

Torsten Ralf (1901-1954)
Lohengrin - Wagner
"In fernem Land"
cond: Leo Blech.
Live in 1945.

[@janetkenny1974]

Magnificent! One of the best versions of this aria that I have heard!

[@faktenmann]

P.S.Als das Kind Peter Schreier mit seinen Eltern die Semperoper in Dresden besuchte, war er von der Stimme Torsten Ralfs derart begeistert, dass er später seine beiden Söhne nach diesem schwedischen Tenor benannte, nämlich Torsten und Ralf. Quelle: Peter Schreier,Für Sie porträtiert von Gottfried Scmiedel, Leipzig 1976

[@deutschefach]

One of the greatest singers of the time. This man was Richard Strauss tenor for Apollo. He sings quite open and has loads of power. He was a big guy with a big voice. He sang at Dresden too. Dead at 53. Why? He has a masculine nobility of tone which is what makes him a held. He is not a lyric trying to sing like a held. I have listened to him for years, and if something is missing it is the legato and emotion. Unusual timbre that probably only fit in German repertoire.

[@svenandersson2210]

It's so sad that this excellent artist is almost forgotten. The interest in Sweden for our great tenors is unfortunately very limited. Of course most people know of Jussi Björling and Nicolai Gedda. Other fine swedish tenors are Martin Öhman, Set Svanholm, Helge Brilioth and Gösta Winbergh, among others!

[@dubbelhenke854]

Gäller också för våra fantastiska kvinnliga artister. Hur många känner till Kerstin Thorborg, Karin Branzell m.fl?

[@svenandersson2210]

Ja, både Karin Branzell och Kerstin Thorborn var storslagna artister. Branzell är den svenska artist som sjungit flest gånger på Met, 431, och Thorborg sjöng 335 gånger. Tack och lov finns det åtskilliga inspelningar utgivna med dem. Karin Branzell ligger begravd i Kalifornien medan Kerstin Thorborg ligger på Hedemora kyrkogård. Den 19 maj är det 125 år sedan hon föddes så man borde åka dit då och lägga en blomma på graven.

[@dubbelhenke854]

@@svenandersson2210Numera bor jag (tyvärr!) inte kvar i Dalarna men hade jag gjort det så absolut. Besökte vår store Jussis grav flera gånger i Stora Tuna och givetvis var man på Jussimuséet som nu dessvärre fått stänga.....

[@robertwbecker]

This is Wonderful! So Heartfelt and Lyric,,, can you tell us more about this singer?

[@ingemayodon5128]

Kannte diesen Sänger nicht, aber schöne Stimme.

[@petergraham8681]

I first heard Ralf on a recording years ago of Florestan’s opening scene & recently have heard this Lohengrin excerpt & wish he had been used at the MET, when he sang there, more often than Svanholm, as an alternative to Melchior. Neither he nor Svanholm could even then compete with Melchior in the heavier Wagner roles but certain lighter parts such as Walther or Lohengrin might have been something else again. From the little I have heard so far it seems that Ralf’s voice had a bit more heft & sonority than Svanholm’s but less of course than THE GREAT DANE. What disappointed me a bit was the live MET broadcast of Ralf as OTELLO. He seemed somewhat undermanned (especially next to Warren) & I wondered whether he had, for me anyway, an appropriate timbre for the Italian rep, although this might have been that he lacked the robust sound for this particular role. Maybe, as with Wagner, more lyric/spinto Italian roles would have shown him to better advantage. Who knows? But in any case more Ralf & a bit less Svanholm during the late 1940’s at the MET, in Wagner anyway, might have made missing Melchior at times, less frustrating. Nothing against Svanholm who was a significant asset as well as a fine artist during his time at the MET but with both he & Ralf able to step in for Melchior this might have challenged the latter tenors occasional complacency.

[@mvcpastkambcstccr8563]

Perfect ...

[@faktenmann]

In der Leo-Blech-Diskographie wird diese Einspielung unter dem 21.April 1945 erwähnt. Blech emigrierte 1937 u.a.nach Schweden , wo sein Schwiegersohn Herbert Sandberg als Kapellmeister an der Oper in Stockholm wirkte. 1948 kehrte Blech nach Berlin zurück, allerdings nicht an die Staatsoper im Ostsektor ( wie dort erhofft ), sondern an die Städtische Oper in Westberlin, wo er bis in die Mitte der 1950er Jahre wirkte.In diesen Jahren machte er noch eine Reihe von Aufnahmen für Funk und Platte.

[@ChmelUlrich]

Zum Träumen

[@robertwbecker]

@robertwbecker just found him on wikipidia and the website named "The Tenor"

[@321abcable]

Another great Swedish tenor who died too young like Bjorling, Lindi, and Winbergh.

[@tenorschofield]

sven sundquist Great full sound had Torsten Ralf a great heldentenor with all the good technique of the sweeden tenors,I agree 100% with you. BRAVO!!!

[@tenorschofield]

Thank you very much Sven; I am an admirer of heldentenors as well as the sweden tenors tradition (Björling, Ralf, Winberg, etc.). While listening to those, I learn a little more each day. Saludos. John

[@tomlagerborg8640]

my grand father became a member of the orchestra at the royal opera 1911 my father 1939 ao i have heard them talk about him now thanks to the wonderful have I heard him and he was a was just so amazing

[@lastofdmelocchians]

This man is still singing today! That's right!...He's been reincarnated as a Helden again. His new name is Ben Heppner;D

[@dubbelhenke854]

Actually his voice does remind me of Heppners!

[@petergraham8681]

Please In I’m IN km