I am only giving one aria for this tenor. I think that that is sufficient to have a gist of what he sounded like. This is a heldentenor (a heroic tenor, with a big, ringing voice) singing an aria from the first act of Rienzi.
Rienzi was Wagner’s third completed opera and was first performed in Dresden in 1842. Wagner wrote the libretto himself, based on a novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Wagner was inspired by the Parisian grand opera and the heroic operas of Spontini.
Rienzi is about a 14th-century Roman tribune who leads a revolt against the nobility to improve the lives of the plebeians. In the opera, Rienzi and his followers defeat the nobility in battle, but Rienzi himself becomes a demagogue and is killed by those he initially supported.
Volk
Rienzi! Ha, Rienzi hoch!
Der Retter naht, vorbei die Schmach!
Rienzi
(feierlich)
Erstehe, hohe Roma, neu!
Sei frei, sei jeder Römer frei!
Volk
Frei Roma! Jeder Römer frei!
Rienzi
Die Freiheit Roms sei das Gesetz,
ihm untertan sei jeder Römer;
bestraft sei streng Gewalt und Raub,
und jeder Räuber Romas Feind!
Verschlossen sei, wie jetzt es ist,
den Übermüt’gen Romas Tor;
willkommen sei, wer Frieden bringt,
wer dem Gesetz Gehorsam schwört.
Die Feinde treffe euer Grimm,
vernichtet sei der Frevler Schar,
daß froh und frei der Pilger zieh’,
geschützt der Hirt der Herde folg’! –
So schwört, zu schirmen das Gesetz,
schwört freier Römer heil’gen Schwur!
Volk
Befreier, Retter, hoher Held!
Rienzi, höre unsern Schwur!
Wir schwören dir, so groß und frei
soll Roma sein, wie Roma war.
Vor Niedrigkeit und Tyrannei
sie unser letztes Blut bewahr!
Tod und Verderben schwören wir
dem Frevler an der Römer Ehr’!
Ein neues Volk erstehe dir,
wie seine Ahnen groß und hehr!
The People
Rienzi! Ah, Rienzi hail!
The champion is coming, you will save our Rome!
Rienzi
(solemnly)
Arise, Romans, now rejoice
Be free, be free every Roman!
The People
Free Rome! Every Roman free!
Rienzi
Protect your right, defend your laws,
once more free, put down the tyrants;
Be free, to law, let’s only bend,
Of Rome and liberty, we’re sons!
Courageous, brave, no quarter give to your oppressors,
Til subdued, be welcomed here,
Who freedom loves, all people free
Be friends of Rome.
That pilgrims come from ev’ry shore
May in your homes their ills restore,
Who e’r to law to right shall bend,
And e’er the Roman’s friend.
This will you swear by honor bound,
Then Rome shall be with country crowned!
The People
Liberator, savior, People’s chief!
Rienzi, faith we swear!
We swear to you whom Rome would save,
Who would for freedom, dangers brave
He thrice accurs’d would betray,
Our holy cause in this great day!
From virtue’s path, let’s never swerve.
Rome’s old renown seek to deserve,
Then through the world will fame resound,
The Roman name with country crowned.
Rudolf Lustig
March 1906 – October 1988
Rudolf Lustig was born in 1906 in Vienna, where he studied with Hermine Geyer prior to beginning his career in 1933 at the National Theatre in Weimar in the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann. Following the war, he moved on to heavier dramatic parts in performances spanning the globe, often appearing with the major stars of the day, including Birgit Nilsson, to whose Isolde he was a frequent Tristan.
He also made several appearances with his wife, soprano Anna Palo, who was a member of the opera company in Aachen, where he finally settled for the remainder of his long life. He died in Vienna in October 1988.