Unusual Photos

Looking In

Unusual Photos

With Ljuba Welitsch

“Live” as Elisabeth

It must have been difficult to photograph during an opera in the 1930s, but here we have Lehmann “in action” as Elisabeth in Wagner’s Tannhäuser. Sadly no date or further information is available.

Studio Photo

It is rare that an unseen photo from Lehmann’s prime appears, but here’s the proof. A very nice one probably from the 1930s has arrived.

Famous Photographers

When I discovered that Lotte Lehmann’s 1947 photograph taken by George Platt Lynes is in the National Portrait Gallery, it reminded me that she had been photographed a lot throughout her life. Many of the photos were taken by Europe and America’s most important portrait photographers: F.F. Bauer (1903-1972), Bettmann (1903-1998), E. Bieber (1878-1962), Caputo, DeBellis, Dietrich, Dührkoop (1873-1929), Edwards, Ellinger (1860-1940), Fayer (1892-1950), Fleischhut (1881-1951), Fleischmann (1895-1990), Foka, Löwy (1883-1938), Maillard-Kesslere (1894-1979), McCombe, Meintner-Graf (1899-1973), Mélancon, Mocsigay, Orkin, Rothmaier, Setzer (aka Tschiedel-Setzer), Skall (1884-1942), and Willinger (1879-1943). But there were also several creative art photographers who took time to set up special elements for the shot. Besides George Platt Lynes (1907-1955), there were Edward Steichen (1879-1973), Horst P. Horst (Horst Paul Albert Bohrmann) (1906-1999), Stadler (for whom I found no information), and other creative photographers. If you know the identity of the un-attributed artists, please let me know. One of the Steichen photos of Lehmann as the Marschallin appeared in Vanity Fair first in 1935 and again in a 1992 Flashback with a text you may read here.

Farewell to the Old Met

We have 13 photos of Mme Lehmann at the grand occasion. Here’s one to whet your appetite.

Recital Photos

We received many photos of Lehmann in Salzburg recitals with Bruno Walter.

Studio Portrait

Lehmann’s studio portrait: this early one has a contemplative feeling about it.

Arabella Photos

Since Lehmann only performed the role of Arabella five times (all for the Vienna Opera), we have few photos. Here’s what I’ve been able to accumulate, including a few from live performances.

On Board

Rarely Encountered Photos

Fritzi Massary

Fritzi Massary (1882–1969) was a Viennese operetta singer at the same time that Lehmann sang opera and gave recitals in Vienna. They never sang on the same stage together, but from this photo, they seem to be great friends.

National Portrait Gallery

Lotte Lehmann was photographed in 1947 by George Platt Lynes (15 April 1907–6 December 1955). The technical information: Medium: Gelatin silver print; Dimensions: Image/Sheet: 23.4cm x 18.8cm (9 3/16 x 7 3/8); Place: Santa Barbara; Credit Line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Gift of Donald Windham; Object number: S/NPG.94.267.

Nelson Eddy

Lehmann was always a movie fan, but the following information can explain her connection to Nelson Eddy, a singing film star. “Eddy was ‘discovered’ by Hollywood when he substituted at the last minute for the noted diva Lotte Lehmann at a sold-out concert in Los Angeles on February 28, 1933. He scored a professional triumph with 18 curtain calls, and several film offers immediately followed. After much agonizing, he decided that being seen on screen might boost audiences for what he considered his ‘real work’, his concerts. (Also, like his machinist father, he was fascinated with gadgets and the mechanics of the new talking pictures.) Eddy’s concert fee rose from $500 to $10,000 per performance.” Later Lehmann coached Jeanette MacDonald who appeared in many of the movies with Eddy. MacDonald actually did sing a few opera performances. After their seventh teaming in Bittersweet did not fare as well in the box office the previous year, MGM decided to split Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald for their next films. Nelson was given his choice of leading lady and he picked Risë Stevens of the Metropolitan Opera. So, in the second photo which shows Lehmann in the same hat etc. as seen with Eddy, you’ll see her with her real opera co-star (she sang Octavian to Lehmann’s Marschallin) on the set for the MGM movie The Chocolate Soldier (1941).

On Tour

“Goethe poems in song were presented by Lotte Lehmann, soprano, Wednesday at the Pabst theater for the bicentenary celebration of the German poet’s birth. Mme. Lehmann is shown before the concert with her accompanist, Paul Ulanowsky, and Dr. William Dehorn (right), chairman of the event.” (The highly “improved” photo [the background and around the heads of the people was painted grey] dated 17 March 1948. This is yet another new recital date for our Lehmann Chronology.

1937 Head Shot

Here’s a photo of Lehmann used for the 24 October 1937 radio broadcast of the “Ford Sunday Evening Hour.” She sang: Marriage of Figaro: Porgi amor; Cimera: Canto di primavera; Schubert: Gretchen am Spinnrade; Brahms: O liebliche Wangen (Schubert and Brahms with her regular pianist Ernö Balogh at the piano); Bayly: Long, long ago (with chorus & orchestra); Müller: O Love of God Most Full (with chorus, audience, and orchestra) with José Iturbi, conducting the Ford Symphony Orchestra and chorus.

Photos

Our great contact in Vienna, Herr Clausen, has sent us the contact information for the Vienna Radio magazine of Lehmann’s era. Besides offering a lot of new information about her recitals, concerts, and opera performances, there are some interesting photos.

Different Photo of Lehmann with Walter

Here’s different photo of Lehmann with Bruno Walter at a Salzburg Festival. The first one is the usual one we see, but now we have a chance for a second that seems more appealing. What do you think?

Live Action

From the April 1937 issue of Theatre Arts Monthly, this page shows Lehmann “live” during actual opera performances. Since no flash was used, the photos are blurry, but since there are so few of them, it’s still interesting to see Lehmann in action.

Early Masterclass

Thanks to Lehmann fan Dr. Schornstein, we have an early (1947?) photo of a Lehmann master class at the Music Academy of the West. It’s interesting to note Lehmann’s usual intensity and that her hair isn’t yet grey.

Sharp Photos

Here are two focused, well-preserved photos of Lehmann. One is familiar, a studio portrait dated 1916 of Lehmann as the Composer from Ariadne auf Naxos by Strauss. The second photo is from the opposite side of Lehmann’s career in which she sang and acted as the mother of Danny Thomas, one of the characters you’ll see in the second photo. The name of the MGM movie was Big City and the photo is from 1948.

Last Night at Old Met

This photo of Lehmann shows her being led across the stage of the old “Met” (the last night of the old Metropolitan Opera) to be seated along with other luminaries of the past. The young man leading Lehmann is her friend, Ronald Mahler. Here’s a link to the Lehmann photos taken during the formal dinner that followed the stage presentation.

Outdoor Photos

Here are some photos of Lehmann outdoors. The outer two are in Salzburg.

Curtain Call

We have very few photos of Lehmann taking curtain calls, but here’s one with Lehmann as Elsa in Lohengrin.

Mature Photo

Vienna 1919 Portrait

Here’s a Lehmann a studio portrait taken in 1919 when she was just making a big name for herself at the Vienna Opera.

Army Camp 1943

We have a handful of photos from Lehmann‘s appearance on Easter Day 1943 at Camp Roberts, thanks to UCSB’s Special Collections. You can view these rare photos on this site.

Indoor Photo

This is a photo taken of Lehmann, probably at her home in Santa Barbara around 1940-50.

Photo with a Story

Mike on Reddit posted the following with the photo of Lehmann that you’ll find below.

My Grandfather Earl was an orchid grower and cymbidium expert. He hybridized many orchids and became rather famous in his own right for helping bring cymbidiums to the Santa Barbara area.

Lotte Lehmann was a famous German opera singer who befriended my grandfather. He hybridized an orchid for her which he named after her. These (unfortunately) cut flowers are from that plant. Pretty cool family history!

Early Sighted Photo

You’ll find a very early photo (hand colored) of Lehmann below.

Gown Misfunction

The photo below shows Lehmann at the 1955 re-opening of the Vienna Opera with two of her colleagues from the past. She’s busy adjusting a gown malfunction while one of the men is obviously interested.

Two Photos

Below you’ll find two Lehmann photos. The first is a photo by G. Maillard-Kesslere. In the second, the man is Bernhard Paumgartner, 1887–1971, an Austrian conductor, composer, writer, and musicologist. This photo was taken on the occasion of Lehmann being awarded the Silver Medal of Salzburg.

Last Recital in Vienna

Below you’ll see an historic photo of Lehmann on the recital stage with Bruno Walter on 1 October 1937. This was to be the last time Lehmann would sing in Europe. In the spring of 1938 Hitler’s troupes marched into Vienna and annexed the whole country. Lehmann returned for the reopening of the Vienna Opera house in 1955, but had already stopped singing.

Photo with Fan

Here’s a Lehmann photo in the flapper-age dress that didn’t flatter any woman!

Five Unusual Photos

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Marschallin Live

Final Marschallin

Photos from Wings of Song

Photos from the London publication of Lehmann’s autobiography Wings of Song have been added to this site.

Photos

Lehmann Ephemera

South American Tour 1922

Our Vienna friend and researcher, Peter Clausen, sent a wonderful photo of the singers and the captain of the ship, that took them on their South American tour in 1922. You can find Lotte Lehmann: she is marked with the number 7, standing at the top of the group, just below number 6. In case you have difficulty reading the German script: 1. Is the conductor of the German contingent, Felix Weingartner; 2. His wife; 3. The Captain; 4. Kirchhoff; 5. Schipper; 6. Braun; 7. LL; 8. Bandler; 9. Wildbrunn; 10. Dr. Kaifer; 11. Bedjtein; 12. Hirn; 13. Mertens; 14. Herr Wildbrunn (husband of the soprano Helene Wildbrunn); 15. Impresario Schraml. Following that photo are two halves of an article about the trip that Herr Clausen has written out in German. I have tried my best to translate those words.

Herr Clausen has also helped with researching two Vienna culture magazines that offered many photos of Lehmann. You can see a condensed version of what we’ve worked on.

In den lang entschwundenen Zeiten, da es uns gut ging, durften wir unsere Kunst noch als eine Luxussache betrachten. Heute ist sie ein wichtiger Exportartikel, eine der groszen Moeglichkeiten unseres Wirtschaftslebens geworden. Unter solchem Gesichtspunkte will auch die Tournee betrachtet werden, die ein Ensemble erstklassiger Wiener Kuenstler unter der Leitung des Direktors Felix Weingartner in Suedamerika unternimmt.

Die Gesellschaft, der auch Frau Weingartner, Fraeulein Lehmann, Herr Bandler, Dr. Kaiser und andere angehoeren, hat die Ueberfahrt an Bord des “Tomaro di Savoia” gemacht und wird unter anderem in Valparaiso und Rio de Janeiro gastieren. Es ist bekannt, daß sich diesem Gastspiel anfaenglich große Schwierigkeiten in den Weg stellten. Direktor Weingartner hat aber drueben einen sehr guten Namen und man darf mit Sicherheit annehmen, daß es ihm und seiner Schar gelingen wird, der öesterreichischen Kunst in Suedamerika neue Freunde zu gewinnen.

In long ago times when we were doing well, we were still allowed to regard our art as a luxury thing. Today it has become an important export item, one of the great opportunities in our economic life. The tour undertaken by an ensemble of first-class Viennese artists under the direction of director Felix Weingartner to South America should also be viewed from this point of view.
 
The company, which also includes Mrs. Weingartner, Miss Lehmann, Mr. Bandler, Dr. Kaiser and others, made the crossing on board the “Tomaro di Savoia” and will be visiting Valparaiso and Rio de Janeiro, among other places. It is known that this guest performance initially met with great difficulties. But director Weingartner has a very good reputation over there and one can assume with certainty that he and his group will succeed in making new friends for Austrian art in South America.

Photos from the LL iBook

We have transferred many Lehmann photos from Volume 8 of the iBook series Lotte Lehmann & Her Legacy. A sample of one of these photos below.

First Day Covers

The first day covers for Lehmann’s German stamps have two issues: one for Bonn (the capital of West Germany at the time) and one for West Berlin.

Youthful Photo

Here is a Lehmann photo while she boards a train. She’s rather young and this is not in a studio.

Youthful Photo

A photo of Lotte Lehmann in 1931 in her wedding dress..

Mildred Miller

Lehmann coached the already successful opera singer Mildred Miller in the 1960s. She was proud enough of her student to fly from California for Ms. Miller’s Carnegie Hall recital. Mildred Miller was kind enough to provide interview material (which we recorded by phone) for two programs celebrating her 90th birthday in December 2014. You can find those programs on the Singing and Other Sins archive. Now, Ms. Miller has sent us the photo of her with Mme. Lehmann on the day of. her recital.

Australia 1939

A wonderful connection leading to Lehmann’s 1939 Australian tour has developed. Lyndon Garbutt writes: “During the 1939 tour Madame Lehmann insisted she have her own flats or apartments to stay in at each of the capital cities.  In one of the articles, she mentions how she wanted to feel as though she were at home – even if it were only for a few days.  One of her assistants would set up photographs of her loved ones in each apartment to give it a personal touch. [Her husband Otto had died earlier in the year.]  I presume this is why she ended up staying in our apartment, as opposed to some leading hotel. And here’s the photo of her practicing in that apartment.”

Lyndon Garbutt has also led me to the large on-line source of the National Library of Australia where I found one of the rare photos taken during a recital.

Posing for Sculptor

Judith Sutcliffe sent a wonderful photo (above) of Lehmann posing for her bust with sculptor Frances Rich. Many thanks! This resulted in the terracotta version that we’ve seen both at the MAW and at Lehmann’s home “Orplid”. The bronze version was shown in the foyer of the Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall at UCSB. It was stolen from its pedestal and never recovered. Here’s information on Frances Rich: Though her longtime studio was in Palm Springs, she spent many years in Santa Barbara caring for her mother, who died at 96 in 1988. Besides Lehmann, Rich made portrait busts of other friends such as birth control activist Margaret Sanger, painter Diego Rivera and composer Virgil Thomson, as well as a 1965 terracotta statue of actress Katharine Hepburn, depicted as Cleopatra for the American Shakespeare Festival and Academy in Stratford, Connecticut. Frances Rich, once a Hollywood actress, had devoted much of her life to making sculptures of saints and celebrities. She died at the age of 97 at her home in Payson, Arizona, after a heart attack.

Below is a photo of one of the final busts with the aged Frances Holden.

Rosenkavalier Photo

Simone from Perleberg, Lehmann’s birthplace, has sent us this photo of Lehmann as the Marschallin from 1939 taken by Horst P. Horst.

LL Photos

Some new post-card photos of an early Lehmann role, as well as some studio recital portraits have been received from an anonymous donor. Many thanks!

Late Photo

Thanks to Lehmann student, Shirley Sproule, for the photo of Mme. Lehmann at the microphone for the recordings of poetry she made for Caedmon Records in 1957.

Tosca Photos

Shortly before he died, Fred Maroth of Music & Arts sent me some glossy photos of Lehmann as Tosca at two points in her career. He also sent a “candid” one of Lehmann at her 80th birthday celebration at the San Francisco Opera. She’s seen viewing the “Lehmann” exhibit which they’d assembled for the occasion. I believe they performed Der Rosenkavalier on her birthday as part of the tribute. Lehmann was said to have abhorred the photo, but it’s a treasure for those of us who only knew her as an old woman. 

With Jeanette MacDonald

Many thanks to Fay La Galle, a fan of Jeanette MacDonald, for the photo of them together. Lehmann had coached  MacDonald.

Youthful Photo

Intermezzo, Ariadne auf Naxos  and Frau ohne Schatten

Herr Clausen sent these pages of Lehmann in Intermezzo, Ariadne auf Naxos  and Frau ohne Schatten. You can click on the image to see it larger or here, to see full-size. There’s also a 1927 photo of Lehmann in Fidelio.

Manon

This photo of a painting of Lehmann as Manon was taken many years ago in the Lehmann Hall of the Music Academy of the West. It often stuns people to realize that she sang this role in Vienna more often than any other.

As Fidelio

Here is a photo that I took of the portrait of Lehmann as Fidelio in Beethoven’s opera of that name. It hangs in the lobby of the Music Academy of the West. It is almost life size, so it’s as if Lehmann/Fidelio is standing there!

Rosenkavalier “Live”

Here is rare “live” photo from a Rosenkavalier performance with Lehmann. One can imagine that such photos are difficult to manage! How were they even taken during performances? Perhaps a dress rehearsal?

Berlin Column

In April 2013 I received an email from Ulrich Peter: “I was in Berlin last week, on business, but I had a day off and so I discovered the city by bicycle. What a breathtaking city, a real Weltstadt, sprudelndes Leben everywhere. When I came to the center, at the Berlin Dom and famous Lustgarten, right next to the Brandenburg Gate, Lotte Lehmann jumped into my eye. It is an open air exhibition called ‘Zerstörte Vielfalt,’ the ‘Litfass-Säulen’ show many courageous people who turned against the Nazis in the years between 1933 to 1938 and 1945. The Lehmann  text says: 1933, Opernstar Lotte Lehmann kehrt dem NS-Staat den Rücken/Opera star Lotte Lehmann turned her back on the Nazi state.”

History: Leinsdorf

In a December 1993 issue of Musical America Worldwide, Milton Esterow wrote:

 In 1934, Toscanini was in Vienna to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic. ‘I was sitting and listening to one of the rehearsals,’ [Erich] Leinsdorf said. ‘One of the officials of the orchestra came into the hall and said they couldn’t find anyone to play Kodaly’s Psalmus Hugaricus on the piano for the old man. I told him I could. Toscanini liked the way I played it.’ For the next three summers Leinsdorf was Toscanini’s assistant in Salzburg. In 1938 Leinsdorf was hired as a conductor at the Metropolitan [Opera]. How did he get the job in New York? [Leinsdorf]: ‘Lotte Lehmann had a lot to do with it. I knew her well in Salzburg. I coached her in some of her roles. But I’ve never quite pinned down who did what. Toscanini? He wasn’t on speaking terms with the Met. The direct line was Lehmann, Edward Johnson and Artur Bodanzky.’