Episode 400. Meet Ilse Wolf

Episode 400. Meet Ilse Wolf

German-British soprano Ilse Wolf (07 June 1921 – 06 September 1999) was another fine lyric soprano active primarily in Britain from the 1950s through the early 1980s. One of the reasons she is remembered today is because she recommended a very young Janet Baker to her own teacher, Helene Isepp, which began a long association between the two which lasted until Isepp’s death in 1968. But Wolf was a fine singer in her own right and was a particularly cogent and expressive singer of Lieder as well as Baroque music. My listeners may remember that during Holy Week this year I played a live recording of Wolf singing the Johannes-Passion under the baton of Pablo Casals. I knew of Wolf because she is the soprano on a delightful 1967 recording of Monteverdi madrigals led by Raymond Leppard. In 1969 she also made a delightful recording of Lieder, her one solo disc, with Martin Isepp, Helene Isepp’s son and also an early collaborator of Janet Baker’s. I decided to scour the interwebs to see what other Ilse Wolf material I could come up with to feature her in her own episode. The answer, beyond these few examples, is: not much, but there were a few additional choice items, and in listening and relistening to the Lieder recording in particular, I discovered that Ilse Wolf was a very fine interpreter, indeed. Her life story is also a compelling one, and I’m privileged to share it (and her delectable singing) with my beloved listeners.

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Claudio Monteverdi, Ottavio Rinuccini: Bel pastor (Madrigali e canzonette, Libro Nono, SWV 168). Ilse Wolf, Gerald English, Raymond Leppard, English Chamber Orchestra [1967]

Robert Schumann, Eduard Mörike: Er ist’s (Liederalbum für die Jugend, Op. 79/23). Ilse Wolf, Ernest Lush [mid-1950s]

Robert Franz, Eduard Mörike: Er ist’s, Op. 27/2. Ilse Wolf, Ernest Lush [mid-1950s]

Felix Mendelssohn: Five Lieder. Ilse Wolf, Martin Isepp [1969]. Poets as indicated.

• Ludwig Tieck: Minnelied, Op. 47/1
• Friederike Robert: Frühlingslied, Op. 8/6
• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Die Liebende schreibt, Op. 86/3
• Karl Klingemann: Der Blumenstrauß, Op. 47/5
• Ludwig Hölty: And’res Maienlied [Hexenlied], Op. 8/8

Johann Sebastian Bach: Quia respexit (Magnificat, BWV 243). Ilse Wolf, Geraint Jones, The Geraint Jones Orchestra and Singers [1955]

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: Benigne fac (Miserere II in c minor). Ilse Wolf, Bernard Rose, The Wren Orchestra [1980]

Johann Sebastian Bach, Picander [Christian Friedrich Henrici]: Zerfließe, mein Herze (Johannes-Passion, BWV 245-35). Ilse Wolf, Pablo Casals, Prades Festival Orchestra [live Prades 11.VII.59]

Johannes Brahms: Four Lieder. Ilse Wolf, Martin Isepp [1969]. Poets as indicated.

• Klaus Groth: Komm bald, Op. 97/5
• Gottfried Keller: Therese, Op. 86/1
• Hans Schmidt: Der Kranz, Op. 84/2
• Clemens von Brentano: O kühler Wald, Op. 72/3

Richard Wagner: Verweile hier, hier muß er kommen!… Welch’ wunderbar Erwarten! (Das Liebesverbot). Ilse Wolf, April Cantelo, Edward Downes, BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra [BBC radio recording 23.V.76]

Hugo Wolf: Four Lieder. Ilse Wolf, Martin Isepp [1969]. Poets as indicated.

• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Marianne von Willemer: Als ich auf dem Euphrat schiffte (Goethe-Lieder, No. 41)
• Marianne von Willemer: Hochbeglückt in deiner Liebe (Goethe-Lieder, No. 40)
• Eduard Mörike: Das verlassene Mägdlein (Mörike-Lieder, No. 7)
• Eduard Mörike: Gebet (Mörike-Lieder, No. 28)

Claudio Monteverdi, Carlo Milanuzzi: Sì dolce è ‘l tormento (Quarto scherzo delle ariose vaghezze, SV 332). Ilse Wolf, Raymond Leppard, English Chamber Orchestra [1967]

Franz Schubert: Four Lieder. Ilse Wolf, Martin Isepp [1969] Poets as indicated.

• Friederich Leopold zu Stolberg-Stolberg: Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D. 774
• Joseph von Spaun: Der Jüngling und der Tod, D. 545
• Johann Mayrhofer: Geheimnis, D. 491
• Matthäus von Collin: Nacht und Träume, D. 827