In the 1920s – 1940s it was difficult during the actual recital to photograph Lehmann and her pianist. We have very few “live” photos and so we need to supplement them with the studio portraits. Should you have any photos of Lehmann singing, please send them to me. As of 2025 we have some new ones of Lehmann singing with either orchestra or piano. Many thanks!
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1936Photo used for stampNew York portraitGlamorous LLMature Lieder singerMature Studio PortraitEarly photoSalzburg photoSalzburg photoDuring flapper modeRecital lookRecital poseRehearsing with KoldofskySalzburg with Bruno WalterRehearsing with UlanowskyStadler Art PhotoWell-known Head ShotYouthful PortraitVery young post card photoAt the time of her wedding (1926)Salzburg1929 postcardPublicity photoMature portraitAutographed postcard, McCann collection19141902Salzburg Fashion 1930Salzburg recitalOn the radio “Cadillac Hour” with ToscaniniSalzburg Festival with Bruno WalterSydney Town HallLL in WinterkleidungUnknown originFor Eugene Ormandy, conductor, with whom LL sang in 193419351919In a recording studio for readingsAn overhead view of Lehmann singing with Toscanini 19341935LL in her wedding dressFor MGM’s BIG CITY, 1948 One of the few color portraitsAnother Big City photo, 1948LL with Bruno Walter, Salzburg recital pianist1928Early undated photoFor her London debut 19141916Recording for Caedmon: German poetryMeintner-Graf, photographerSalzburg 1937: Bruno Walter and LLSalzburg 1937Salzburg undatedLynes, PhotographerPhotorapher: Ellinger, Salzburg, 1920sPhotographer: Lotte Meitner-GrafBadly damaged, but unknown early photoNot Lehmann’s signatureDated 1927, it may be earlier1936The date “1971” means that Lehmann is 83 years old.Lehmann’s first English opera appearance: 1914A studio portrait by Lotte Meintner Graf in London probably in the late 1950sFrom the Cölner Festspiel 1914 where LL sang Agathe and Eva.LL in 1919LL reading poetry 1958At the microphone reading poetry in 1957From Die Bühne 1936Lehmann in 1931 in her wedding dress1938 is LL’s signature, but the photo may have been taken earlier.Recital PoseOne of the few photos of LL singing. This probably for Magic Key with orchestra with an audience.September 23, 1936, LL, Bruno Walter; Großen Musikvereinssaal
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!”
Lehmann’s dedication to Grandfather Earl
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.
Clipping with a Story
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.
Lotte Lehmann gave this recital in the Großen Musikvereinssaal with Bruno Walter before her trip to America; around Christmas time her recently completed book [Orplid mein Land translated as Eternal Flight] would be available.
