- Torsten Ralf
Torsten Ralf (
January 2 ,1901 ,Malmo -April 27 ,1954 ,Stockholm ) was a Swedish operatictenor , particularly associated with Wagner and Strauss roles, one of the leading dramatic tenors of the inter-war period.Ralf began his vocal studies in Stockholm with Haldis Ingebjart and John Forsell, and later in
Berlin with Hertha Dehmlow. He made his debut in 1930, as Cavaradossi inStettin . After singing inChemnitz (1931-33) andFrankfurt (1933-35), he joined theStaatsoper Dresden in 1935. He also appeared regularly at theMunich State Opera and theVienna State Opera , establishing himself in roles such as Florestan, Tannhauser, Lohengrin, Stolzing, Siegmund, Tristan, Parsifal, Bacchus, but also Radames, Otello.He created Apollo in Strauss's "Daphne" in 1938, and
Heinrich Sutermeister 's "Die Zauberinsel" in 1942.Ralf made guest appearances at the
Royal Opera House in London,theTeatro Colon in Buenos Aires. During the war, Ralf sang with theBerlin State Opera and theStockholm Opera . He made his debut at the New YorkMetropolitan Opera in 1945, as Lohengrin under the baton ofFritz Busch , he sang at the Met for three seasons.In 1952 he received the title of Court Opera Singer in Sweden. Ralf died unexpectedly in 1954, but his voice lives on in several recordings he made, notably his excerpts of Lohengrin with
Tiana Lemnitz as Elsa, Tristan withHelen Traubel as Isolde, as well as scenes from "Die Frau ohne Schatten " withHilde Konetzni .elected recording
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Verdi - "Otello" - Torsten Ralf, Hilde Konetzni,Paul Schoffler - Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra,Karl Bohm - Cantus Classic (complete recording sung in German, 1944)ources
* [http://www.operissimo.com Operissimo.com]
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