Cylinder of the Month

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From 1904, the beautiful Schwanlied aus Lohengrin (Swan song from "Lohengrin"), sung by Ernst Kraus.

Schwanlied aus Lohengrin (Swan song from "Lohengrin")

Company Edison's National Phonograph Company
Cylinder # 12258
Category Gesang (Song)
Title Schwanlied aus Lohengrin (Swan song from "Lohengrin")
Performed by Ernst Kraus
Circa 1904
Announcement "Schwanlied aus Lohengrin, gesungen vom koeniglichen Kammersaenger Herrn Kraus.  Edison record."

(Translated from German: "Swan song from Lohengrin, sung by royal chamber singer Mr. Kraus.  Edison record.")

In the final scene of the opera, Lohengrin's transport, a swan, arrives to take him home, to which he sings Mein lieber Schwan ("My dear Swan").   Wagner's Schwanlied apparently popularized use of the term "swan song" being taken to mean a final farewell.  

Many thanks to Norman Bruderhofer for sharing his translation expertise with this cylinder of the month.

To hear the Swan song from Lohengrin  —

For help playing these sounds, click here.

Remembering

September 11, 2001

— This cylinder of the month is from the collection of  Art Guenther —