Max Lorenz (tenor)
Max Lorenz (actually Max Sülzenfuß; born May 10, 1901 in Dusseldorf, † January 11, 1975 in Salzburg ) was a German tenor.
Life
Rather than take over his father butcher, he opted for an artistic career and changed during his vocal training early 20s his name of Max Sülzenfuß in the artist name of Max Lorenz.
His teachers were Max Ernst Pauli in Cologne and limit Bach in Berlin, and later promoted him Heinz Tietjen. Lorenz made his debut in 1927 at the Dresden State Opera. 1933 we signed him to the Berlin State Opera. This was followed by numerous guest appearances at many opera houses around the world. In parallel, he sang from 1933 to 1954 at the Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, was from 1931 to 1934 member of the New York Metropolitan Opera, and from 1948 to 1962 member of the Vienna State Opera. In 1942 he played the small role of an opera singer in the movie Old Heart is young again.
Lorenz was indeed gay, but since 1932, with the Jewess Charlotte ( Lotte ) Appel ( 1897-1964 ) married a singer, who also served as his manager later. His homosexuality was tolerated at first implied by the Nazis. When Lorenz, however, was put on trial for an affair with a young man, Adolf Hitler shared with the then director of the Bayreuth Festival, Winifred Wagner, Lorenz became intolerable for the Festival. Wagner is said to have loud retorts own description, in which case they could " close Bayreuth "; without Lorenz was " Bayreuth not to do ." After the end of legal proceedings assured her Hitler, Lorenz could continue to occur in Bayreuth.
As for his Jewish wife, Lorenz insisted to show up with her in public, a behavior that was perceived by the Nazis as a provocation. As SS while Lorenz's absence his wife and mother in law should pick up out of the apartment, this could be prevented at the last moment: Lotte Lorenz could have a phone number, which they had obtained from Hermann Goering's sister, contact by phone with a superior authority; from there came to the SS instructed to leave the apartment and let the women unmolested. In response to this incident Göring decreed by letter dated 21 March 1943 Lorenz was under his personal protection; any action against Lorenz, his wife and their mother had to be omitted.
Waldemar Kmentt According to Max Lorenz is said to have used its privileged position in the Third Reich to protect alongside his wife and many Jewish friends and colleagues from persecution.
After the Second World War, Lawrence settled in Vienna and acquired Austrian citizenship. It was at this time the leading heroic tenor at the Vienna State Opera and also made numerous guest appearances on international opera stages. In Bayreuth Lorenz sang for the last time in 1954; then followed by regular appearances at the Salzburg Festival. 1962 to 1974 taught at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and Lorenz private visit to Munich and Salzburg.
Max Lorenz was a true Wagnerian tenor and celebrated his greatest successes as a heroic tenor in Wagner operas. In 1960 he sang for the last time in Dresden Tristan. His last appearance on an opera stage had Lorenz in 1962 at the Vienna State Opera. Two years later his wife died Lotte.
Your living in Israel brother James Lorenz wrote then a letter, which states among other things:
[ ... ] What you have done in human relationship, will always be a role model for me: You held around the time of Hitler loyal to your Jewish woman, and in addition you have kept my Blessed Mother under her own risk with you zuhaus hidden. That's what I 'll always remember with deep gratitude. In intimate friendship, James.
The grave of Max and Lotte Lorenz is located in the memorial grove at Vienna's Central Cemetery (Group 40, Number 37).
Clips
- Richard Wagner Rienzi Act 1: Rienzi! Rienzi! High, Rienzi, high ( MP3 file, 2.0 MB)