Wolfgang Windgassen

Composers

Biography

Born: June 26, 1914; Annamasse, France   Died: September 8, 1974; Stuttgart, Germany  
The most important singer of the German Heldentenor repertory in the 1950s and 1960s, Wolfgang Windgassen employed his not-quite-heroic instrument, believable physique, and considerable musical intelligence to forge memorable performances on-stage and in the recording studio. Although his voice lacked the sensuous appeal of Melchior's or Völker's, it was never unattractive and never employed to obvious effect. Indeed, it conveyed a youthfulness Read more that suited the young Siegfried especially well. Born to German parents, both of them singers, in French Savoy, Windgassen began his vocal studies with his father Fritz. He later continued his training with Alfons Fischer and Maria Raznow at the Stuttgart Conservatory. The tenor made his debut as Alvaro in La forza del destino at Pforzheim in 1941. In 1945, he joined the Württembergisches Staatstheater in Stuttgart, steadily moving from lyric roles to more heroic parts; he remained a singer there until 1972. Upon making his debut in the first postwar season at Bayreuth in 1951, he came to international attention. His Parsifal, growing from uncomprehending innocence to maturity and service, was a moving portrayal and was recorded live by Decca Records. Windgassen became indispensable at the Bayreuth Festival, excelling as Lohengrin, the two Siegfrieds, Tannhäuser, and Tristan. There, he earned the respect and devotion of the three leading dramatic sopranos of the age: Martha Mödl, Astrid Varnay, and Birgit Nilsson. Elsewhere, Windgassen made positive impressions at La Scala (where he debuted as Florestan in 1952), Paris (Parsifal in 1954), and Covent Garden, where he appeared as Tristan in 1954. Although regarded by English critics as somewhat light of voice for Wagner's heaviest tenor roles, his lyric expression and dramatic aptness were wholly admired. The Metropolitan Opera briefly heard him as Siegmund beginning in January 1957 (a role rather low for him) and as Siegfried. Windgassen did not return to America until 1970, when he sang Tristan to the Isolde of Nilsson at San Francisco. Beginning that same year, he turned to stage direction. Among Windgassen's finest recordings are his Bayreuth Parsifal, captured with a superb cast under Knappertsbusch's direction, his 1954 Bayreuth Lohengrin under Jochum, his Siegfrieds under both Böhm at Bayreuth and in the studio with Solti, and his Bayreuth Tristan with Böhm conducting and Nilsson as his Isolde. Read less

Featured Wolfgang Windgassen CDs & DVDs:

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen / Varnay, Hotter, Windgassen, Krauss
Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen / Varnay, Hotter, Windgassen, Krauss
Release Date: 01/22/2013   Label: Opera D'oro  
Catalog: 1504   Number of Discs: 14
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Wagner: Tristan und Isolde / Böhm, Nilsson, Windgassen
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde / Böhm, Nilsson, Windgassen
Release Date: 11/11/1997   Label: Dg The Originals  
Catalog: 449772   Number of Discs: 3
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Wagner: Tannhauser / Windgassen, Nilsson, Fischer-Dieskau, Gerdes
Wagner: Tannhauser / Windgassen, Nilsson, Fischer-Dieskau, Gerdes
Release Date: 09/10/2002   Label: Deutsche Grammophon  
Catalog: 471708   Number of Discs: 3
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Beethoven: Fidelio / Furtwängler, Mödl, Windgassen, Frick
Beethoven: Fidelio / Furtwängler, Mödl, Windgassen, Frick
Release Date: 01/19/1993   Label: Emi Great Recordings Of The Century  
Catalog: 64496   Number of Discs: 2
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Wagner: Das Rheingold / Bohm, Windgassen, Adam
Wagner: Das Rheingold / Bohm, Windgassen, Adam
Release Date: 05/08/2002   Label: Philips  
Catalog: 412475   Number of Discs: 2
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Browse 26-50 of 83 Available Recordings
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  • 26.
    German Romantic Opera - Weber, Lortzing, Flotow, Zeller
    German Romantic Opera - Weber, Lortzing, Flotow, Zeller
    Label: Gala   Catalog: 632 Release Date: 03/30/2010   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Friedrich von Flotow,  Albert Lortzing,  Carl Maria von Weber,  Carl Zeller
    Performer:  Hilde Rössl-Majdan,  Waldemar Kmentt,  Teresa Stich-Randall,  Walter Berry  ... 
    Conductor:  Franz Salmhofer,  Victor Reinshagen,  Ferdinand Leitner,  Wolfgang Sawallisch  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Symphony Orchestra,  Bamberg Symphony Orchestra,  Württemberg State Orchestra  ... 
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  • 27.
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen / Clemens Krauss
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen / Clemens Krauss
    Label: Gala   Catalog: GL999791 Release Date: 02/23/2010   Number of Discs: 14
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Gisela Litz,  Gustav Neidlinger,  Hans Hotter,  Ira Malaniuk  ... 
    Conductor:  Clemens Krauss
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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  • 28.
    Wagner: Siegfried / Solti, Nilsson, Hotter, Stolze
    Wagner: Siegfried / Solti, Nilsson, Hotter, Stolze
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 414110 Release Date: 02/11/2010   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Kurt Böhme,  Dame Joan Sutherland,  Gustav Neidlinger  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Georg Solti
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 29.
    Dokumente Einer Sangerkarriere - Wolfgang Windgassen
    Dokumente Einer Sangerkarriere - Wolfgang Windgassen
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 93457 Release Date: 11/10/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Wolfgang Windgassen
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  • 30.
    Wagner: Die Walkure / Keilberth, Modl, Varnay, Hotter, Vinay
    Wagner: Die Walkure / Keilberth, Modl, Varnay, Hotter, Vinay
    Label: Testament   Catalog: 1432 Release Date: 10/13/2009   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,  Georgine von Milinkovic,  Ramon Vinay  ... 
    Conductor:  Joseph Keilberth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Chorus,  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra
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  • 31.
    In Memoriam Christel Goltz
    In Memoriam Christel Goltz
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 93455 Release Date: 09/08/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Christoph W. Gluck,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Carl Maria von Weber,  Richard Wagner  ... 
    Performer:  Christel Goltz,  Bernd Aldenhoff,  Max Lorenz,  Elisabeth Wysor  ... 
    Conductor:  Arthur Rother,  Robert Heger,  Kurt Striegler,  Ferdinand Leitner  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin RIAS Symphony Orchestra,  Bavarian State Orchestra,  Dresden Staatskapelle  ... 
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  • 32.
    Richard Wagner: Das Rheingold
    Label: Myto Records   Catalog: 2CD00203 Release Date: 09/08/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Ira Malaniuk,  Erich Witte,  Josef Greindl,  Wolfgang Windgassen  ... 
    Conductor:  Joseph Keilberth
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  • 33.
    Wagner: Parsifal / Leitner, Windgassen, Cramer, Modl, Neidlinger, Sentpaul
    Wagner: Parsifal / Leitner, Windgassen, Cramer, Modl, Neidlinger, Sentpaul
    Label: Profil   Catalog: 9009 Release Date: 07/28/2009   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Friederike Sailer,  Gerhard Schott,  Franziska Wachmann,  Martha Mödl  ... 
    Conductor:  Ferdinand Leitner
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  • 34.
    Historical - Wagner: Das Rheingold / Keilberth, Uhde, Malaniuk, Et Al
    Historical - Wagner: Das Rheingold / Keilberth, Uhde, Malaniuk, Et Al
    Label: Myto Records   Catalog: 203 Release Date: 06/30/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Ludwig Weber,  Melanija Bugarinovic,  Hertha Töpper,  Ira Malaniuk  ... 
    Conductor:  Joseph Keilberth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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  • 35.
    Historical - Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde / Sawallisch, Windgassen, Greindl, Nilsson, Hoffmann, Et Al
    Historical - Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde / Sawallisch, Windgassen, Greindl, Nilsson, Hoffmann, Et Al
    Label: Myto Records   Catalog: 186 Release Date: 02/24/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Fritz Uhl,  Birgit Nilsson,  Erick Saeden  ... 
    Conductor:  Wolfgang Sawallisch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bavarian Festival Chorus,  Bavarian Festival Orchestra
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  • 36.
    Wagner: Wesendonck-lieder; Tristan Und Isolde; Siegfried; Gotterdammerung
    Wagner: Wesendonck-lieder; Tristan Und Isolde; Siegfried; Gotterdammerung
    Label: Ars Produktion   Catalog: 38707 Release Date: 02/24/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Astrid Varnay,  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Hertha Topper
    Conductor:  Herman Weigert,  Leopold Ludwig
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  • 37.
    Wagner: Gotterdammerung / Keilberth, Modl, Windgassen, Greindl, Hotter, Et Al
    Wagner: Gotterdammerung / Keilberth, Modl, Windgassen, Greindl, Hotter, Et Al
    Label: Testament   Catalog: 1433 Release Date: 02/10/2009   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Martha Mödl,  Josef Greindl,  Gré Brouwenstijn,  Hans Hotter  ... 
    Conductor:  Joseph Keilberth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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  • 38.
    Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus / Böhm
    Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus / Böhm
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 4756216 Release Date: 09/02/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.
    Performer:  Erich Kunz,  Gundula Janowitz,  Eberhard Wächter,  Waldemar Kmentt  ... 
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 39.
    Ultimate Wagner - Essential Masterpieces
    Ultimate Wagner - Essential Masterpieces
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 00115870 Release Date: 08/26/2008   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Ruth Hesse,  Gustav Neidlinger,  Dorothea Siebert,  Helga Dernesch  ... 
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm,  Sir Georg Solti,  Silvio Varviso,  James Levine
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
    CD: $17.99
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  • 40.
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen / Kempe, Hotter, Nilsson, Windgassen, Vinay
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen / Kempe, Hotter, Nilsson, Windgassen, Vinay
    Label: Testament   Catalog: 1426 Release Date: 08/12/2008   Number of Discs: 13
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Birgit Nilsson,  Hans Hotter,  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Peter Klein  ... 
    Conductor:  Rudolf Kempe
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus,  Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra
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  • 41.
    D'albert: Die Toten Augen / Born, Schech, Windgassen, Fehringer, Et Al
    D'albert: Die Toten Augen / Born, Schech, Windgassen, Fehringer, Et Al
    Label: Myto Records   Catalog: 152 Release Date: 07/29/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Eugène d' Albert
    Performer:  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Marianne Schech,  Hetty Plümacher,  Lore Paul  ... 
    Conductor:  Walter Born
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra
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  • 42.
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen / Keilberth, Et Al
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen / Keilberth, Et Al
    Label: Testament   Catalog: 1412 Release Date: 02/12/2008   Number of Discs: 14
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Gré Brouwenstijn,  Astrid Varnay,  Hans Hotter,  Ramon Vinay  ... 
    Conductor:  Joseph Keilberth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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  • 43.
    J. Strauss: Die Fledermaus / Janowitz, Wächter, Böhm
    J. Strauss: Die Fledermaus / Janowitz, Wächter, Böhm
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 001038309 Release Date: 01/08/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.
    Performer:  Erich Kunz,  Eberhard Wächter,  Gundula Janowitz,  Renate Holm  ... 
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 44.
    The Golden Ring / Solti, Vienna Philharmonic
    The Golden Ring / Solti, Vienna Philharmonic
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 000942009 Release Date: 08/14/2007  
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Birgit Nilsson,  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau,  Gottlob Frick
    Conductor:  Sir Georg Solti
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 45.
    Wagner: Gotterdammerung / Keilberth, Et Al
    Wagner: Gotterdammerung / Keilberth, Et Al
    Label: Testament   Catalog: 1393 Release Date: 02/13/2007   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Maria Graf,  Jutta Vulpius,  Elisabeth Schärtel,  Maria von Ilosvay  ... 
    Conductor:  Joseph Keilberth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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  • 46.
    Wagner: Siegfried / Keilberth, Windgassen, Hotter, Varnay
    Wagner: Siegfried / Keilberth, Windgassen, Hotter, Varnay
    Label: Testament   Catalog: 1392 Release Date: 04/11/2006   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Gustav Neidlinger,  Hans Hotter,  Paul Kuen  ... 
    Conductor:  Joseph Keilberth
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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  • 47.
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen / Knappertsbusch, Varney, Et Al
    Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen / Knappertsbusch, Varney, Et Al
    Label: Orfeo D'or   Catalog: 660513 Release Date: 10/25/2005   Number of Discs: 13
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Georgine von Milinkovic,  Astrid Varnay,  Maria von Ilosvay,  Hilde Scheppan  ... 
    Conductor:  Hans Knappertsbusch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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  • 48.
    Wagner: Lohengrin - Bayreuth 1954 / Jochum, Nilsson, Et Al
    Wagner: Lohengrin - Bayreuth 1954 / Jochum, Nilsson, Et Al
    Label: Archipel   Catalog: 281 Release Date: 04/26/2005   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Franz Crass,  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Birgit Nilsson,  Toni Blankenheim  ... 
    Conductor:  Eugen Jochum
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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  • 49.
    Paperback Opera - Wagner: Flying Dutchman / Fricsay, Et Al
    Paperback Opera - Wagner: Flying Dutchman / Fricsay, Et Al
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 20036 Release Date: 03/29/2005   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Anneliese Kupper,  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Sieglinde Wagner,  Ernst Haefliger  ... 
    Conductor:  Ferenc Fricsay
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin RIAS Symphony Orchestra,  Berlin RIAS Chamber Chorus
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  • 50.
    Wagner: Der Fliegende Holländer / Knappertsbusch, Varney
    Wagner: Der Fliegende Holländer / Knappertsbusch, Varney
    Label: Urania   Catalog: 271 Release Date: 03/01/2005   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Wagner
    Performer:  Wolfgang Windgassen,  Josef Traxel,  Astrid Varnay,  Hermann Uhde  ... 
    Conductor:  Hans Knappertsbusch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bayreuth Festival Orchestra,  Bayreuth Festival Chorus
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