Max Lorenz (tenor)

Max Lorenz (10 May 1901 – 11 January 1975) was a German heldentenor particularly admired for his Wagnerian interpretations.

Born in Düsseldorf, Lorenz made his debut in 1927 at the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden as Walther in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He quickly established himself as a leading tenor in Germany and beyond, performing regularly at the Bayreuth Festival from 1933 to 1944, and again from 1952 to 1954. His roles at Bayreuth included Siegfried (Siegfried and Götterdämmerung), Walther, Parsifal, Erik (Der fliegende Holländer), and Lohengrin. He also sang frequently at the Vienna State Opera, the Metropolitan Opera (1931-1934), the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and La Scala.

Lorenz possessed a powerful and dramatic voice, coupled with strong stage presence. His repertoire extended beyond Wagner to include roles such as Florestan (Fidelio), Otello, and Herod (Salome).

His career was significantly impacted by his sexuality. As a homosexual man living under the Nazi regime, he faced persecution and blackmail. While he was protected to some extent by his popularity and importance to the war effort (particularly for boosting morale), he was also subjected to surveillance and suspicion. His husband was incarcerated in a concentration camp, and Lorenz himself faced potential imprisonment. The circumstances surrounding his personal life during this period remain a subject of ongoing scholarly examination.

After World War II, Lorenz continued to perform internationally, although his voice showed signs of wear. He retired from the stage in 1962. He left a legacy of recordings that provide insight into his dramatic and vocal abilities.

Lorenz died in Vienna in 1975.