A huge man, possessor of a gigantic voice that sat high enough to allow for effortless B-flats, Bs, and high-Cs, Leo Slezak (1873-1946) was a favorite in Austria, at the Met, and at Covent Garden, singing a remarkable array of roles. He sang (among others) Otello, Radames, Belmonte, Tamino, Lohengrin, Jean (in Prophete), Raoul (in Huguenots), Romeo, Canio, and Arnold (in William Tell). The 24 selections here (all sung in German except for Otello’s “Ora e per sempre, addio”) showcase his three greatest attributes: seemingly limitless power, impeccable pitch, and a beautiful, sustainable mezza voce.
He sings “Viens, gentile dame” from La Dame Blanche with a continuous, sweet tone, and is similarly lovely in an aria from Auber’s La Muette di Portici. His ability to trumpet is clear from the Otello excerpts; his “Vesti la giubba” is big and emotional without being vulgar. Three highlights from Lohengrin make us wish he had recorded the whole role, and his “Abduction” aria is a model of legato and breath control. But in the end, his sound can tire the ear somewhat; he impresses without really wanting to make you hear more. Slezak was an exciting tenor of his age, to be sure. The sound is as good as anything from 1903-21 can be.
