ABSTRACT
American yodeler, whose name is also seen as Le Mar, La Mar, and Le Maur. He recorded for the United States Phonograph Co. of New Jersey and the Chicago Talking Machine Co. in the mid-1890s, and later made three titles for Columbia (in their 18971898 catalog). He was heard on U.S. and U.K. Zonophone also, and on Victor from 1901 to 1905. [Brooks 1979.]
German soprano, born in Metz. She sang with small companies until 1929, when she joined the Hanover Opera and remained to 1934. Then she was engaged by the Berlin State Opera, 1934-1957; she retired in 1957. She died in Berlin. Lemnitz sang across the repertoires, including Russian operas in Russian. She was heard in London and Buenos Aires. Her first records were for Polydor in 1934, beginning with “Wie nahte… leise, leise” from Freischütz (#15081)—one of her famous roles-and including two Lohengrin arias (#35081). From Otello, another of her fine showpieces, she sang four numbers for Electrola (HMV) in Germany (who recorded her in 1937-1948). Although sung in German, these recordings represent her voice at its delicate best: the love duet (with Torsten Ralf), and the “Ave Maria.” A CD from Harmonia Mundi (89025) includes the Otello numbers, plus a splendid “Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser and other material made for HMV in 1938-1939; Preiser reissued recordings made during the war years on CD 89025. [Seeliger 1963.]
Although best remembered for his recorded work with the British Invasion group, the Beatles, Lennon enjoyed a productive-if uneven-solo career. His studio output-while ranging widely from avant-garde experiments, to edgy political protest, to more standard pop fare-was always characterized by an uncompromising integrity and idiosyncratic richness of expression that sometimes achieved a poetic beauty unparalleled among commercial music songsmiths.
