Marc Mandel

In the September/October 1990 issue of Fanfare, Marc Mandel writes about the two Pearl CDs released that year. "These two discs preserve treasures indeed...Lehmann's uniquely characteristic warmth and conviction help bring each heroine vividly to life; she projects a keen awareness of Tosca's situation, honest innocence in "Un bel di," touching plaintiveness in Mimi's narrative, and apt wonderment at Turandot's newfound humanity. For that matter, the Chenier aria... is equally persuasive, even as juxtaposed against the more standard Lehmann fare of Wagner and Richard Strauss. But to say 'standard' is unfair...this Liebestod remains more engagingly human and rapturously triumphant than any I've encountered (listen to the wonder conveyed in the word 'Seht ihr's, Freunde?')"