This page lists all the known recordings of the great German dramatic soprano, Frida Leider (1888-1975). She was probably the most sought after Wagnerian soprano in the 1920s and 1930s in Europe, excelling particularly as Isolde and Brunnhilde. In the US she sang mainly in Chicago and only two seasons at the Met (1932-34). The few live broadcasts we have of her capture some of her Isolde and Brunnhilde. The New York recordings are in poor sound, recorded off the radio, but the 1936 Covent Garden Gotterdammerung extracts are in good sound since they were recorded professonionally by HMV engineers. She made a varied selection of studio recordings, both acoustic and electric. The most celebrated are the extracts from Die Walkure with Schorr and the love duet from Tristan with Melchior. Her final wartime recordings capture her as a lieder singer.

Live Recordings

March 3, 1933

Tristan und Isolde – Met (extracts from act 1 - 22 mins and act 2 - 3 mins - extract available from the Frida Leider society)

March 11, 1933

Tristan und Isolde – Met (extracts totaling 68 mins Act 1 - 25 mins, Act 2 - 8 mins, Act 3 - 35 mins although the sound is poor this historic recording preserves a good part of Leider's Isolde. The best remastering is available from the Frida Leider society.)

Feb 3, 1934

Die Walkure - Met (extracts totalling 91 mins Act 1 - 35 mins, Act 2 - 24 mins, Act 3 - 35 mins although the sound is poor this historic recording preserves a good part of Leider's Brunnhilde in Walkure. The best remastering is available from the Frida Leider society.)

July 1934

Gotterdammerung – Bayreuth (1min 40 secs of the Dawn Duet filmed for German TV at a rehearsal available from the Frida Leider society)

August 6, 1934

Die Walkure – Bayreuth (8 mins extract from Act 3 available from the Frida Leider society)

May 14, 1936

Götterdämmerung Covent Garden (ext. Act 1 40 mins Act 2 50 mins - contains nearly all of Brunnhilde's part except the dawn duet and the Immolation - available in decent sound from Immortal Performances)

June 1, 1938

Die Walküre Covent Garden (Act 2 Ext 4 mins available from the Frida Leider society)

June 7, 1938

Götterdämmerung Covent Garden (Act 2 Sc 4-5 35 min available from the Frida Leider society)

Studio Recordings (best remasterings from Truesound Transfers)

1. TANNHÄUSER (Wagner), Act II: Dich, teure Halle

DGG 65627 [B 24052] (mx. 598 as) - Berlin, ca.11.1921

2. FIDELIO (Beethoven), Act I: Komm, Hoffnung "Abscheulicher!"

DGG 65743 [B 24180, B 24181] (mx. 599½ as, 600½ as) - Berlin, ca.11.1921

3. TRISTAN UND ISOLDE (Wagner), Act III: Mild und leise

DGG 65627 [B 24053] (mx. 601 as) - Berlin, ca.11.1921

4.LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (Mozart), Act II: Porgi amor

DGG 65744 [B 24182] (mx. 603 as) - Berlin, ca.11.1921

5. LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (Mozart), Act III: Dove sono

DGG 65744 [B 24183] (mx. 604½ as) - Berlin, ca.11.1921

6. OBERON (Weber), Act II: Ozean, du Ungeheuer!

DGG 65625 [B 24046, B 24047] (mx. 605 as, 606½ as) - Berlin, ca.11.1921

7. AIDA (Verdi), Act I: Ritorna vincitor!

DGG 65641 [B 24071] (mx. 678 as) - Berlin, ca.03.1922

8. AIDA (Verdi), Act III: O patria mia

DGG 65641 [B 24070] (mx. 602 as) - Berlin, ca.11.1921

9. AIDA (Giuseppe Verdi), Act III: Pur ti riveggo - Carl Günther (T),

DGG 65691 [B 25024, B 25025] (mx. 949 as, 950 as) - Berlin, 10.1922

10. RIENZI (Wagner), Act III: In seiner Blüte bleicht mein Leben

DGG 65704 [B 24156] (mx. 679 as) - Berlin, ca.03.1922

11. Ah! perfido! (Beethoven)

DGG 65745 [B 24184, B 24185] (mx. 682 as, 683 as) - Berlin, ca.03.1922

12. TOSCA (Puccini), Act I: Ora stammi a sentir - Carl Günther (T),

DGG 65687 [B 25023] (mx. 947 as) - Berlin, 10.1922

13. TOSCA (Puccini), Act II: Vissi d'arte

DGG 72875 [B 24216] (mx. 607 as) - Berlin, ca.11.1921

14. TOSCA (Puccini), Act III: Amaro sol per te - Carl Günther (T),

DGG 65687 [B 25022] (mx. 946 as) - Berlin, 10.1922

15. DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER (Wagner), Act II: Traft ihr das Schiff

DGG 72978 [B 24260] (mx. 881 az) - Berlin, 04.1925

16. DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER (Wagner), Act II: Bleib, Senta! - Carl Günther (T)

DGG 65704 [B 25026] (mx. 948 as) - Berlin, 10.1922

17. DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner), Act I: Du bist der Lenz - Lauritz Melchior (T)

DGG 72934 [B 25033, B 25034] (mx. 1485½ as, 1486 as) - Berlin, 12.1923

18. UN BALLO IN MASCHERA (Verdi), Act II: Ve' se di notte

Heinrich Schlusnus (Bar), Martin Abendroth (Bs), Otto Helgers (Bs),

DGG 72961 [B 25050] (mx. 759 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

19. IL TROVATORE (Verdi), Act I: Di geloso amor sprezzato

Robert Hutt (T), Heinrich Schlusnus (Bar), DGG 72961 [B 25051] (mx. 762 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

20. IL TROVATORE (Verdi), Act IV: D'amor sull'ali rosee

DGG 72975 [B 25053] (mx. 763 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

21. IL TROVATORE (Verdi), Act IV: Mira, d'acerbe lagrime - Heinrich Schlusnus (Bar),

DGG 72988 [B 25066, B 25067] (mx. 760 az, 761 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

22. DON GIOVANNI (Mozart), Act I: Or sai chi l'onore

DGG 72976 [B 24255] (mx. 764 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

23. LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (Mozart), Act II: Porgi amor

DGG 65744 [B 24182X] (mx. 765 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

24. DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner), Act II: Siegmund, sieh auf mich!

Fritz Soot (T), DGG 72986 [B 25062, B 25063] (mx. 891 az, 892 az) - Berlin, 04.1925

25. DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner), Act III: War es so schmählich 3:47

DGG 72978 [B 24259] (mx. 896 az) - Berlin, 04.1925

26. SIEGFRIED (Wagner), Act III: Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!

Fritz Soot (T) - DGG 72985 [B 25060] (mx. 789 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

27. SIEGFRIED (Wagner), Act III: Ewig war ich, ewig bin ich

DGG 72977 [B 24257] (mx. 767 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

28. SIEGFRIED (Wagner), Act III: Dich lieb' ich - Fritz Soot (T),

DGG 72985 [B 25061] (mx. 894 az) - Berlin, 04.1925

29. GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG (Wagner), Vorspiel: Zu neuen Taten, teurer Helde!

Fritz Soot (T), DGG 72984 [B 25058, B 25059] (mx. 786 az, 787 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

30. TRISTAN UND ISOLDE (Wagner), Act II: Isolde! Tristan! Geliebter!

Fritz Soot (T), - DGG [test] (mx. 893 az) - Berlin, 04.1925

31. TRISTAN UND ISOLDE (Wagner), Act II: O sink hernieder,

Fritz Soot (T), - DGG [test] (mx. 788 az) - Berlin, 02.1925

32. PARSIFAL (Wagner), Act II: Ich sah das Kind an seiner Mutter Brust

DGG 72977 [B 24258] (mx. 882 az) - Berlin, 04.1925

33. DON CARLOS (Verdi), Act III: O don fatale

DGG 72998 [J 24066] (mx. 22 be) - Berlin, 04.1925

34. IL TROVATORE (Verdi), Act I: Tacea la notte placida

DGG 72975 [B 24254] (mx. 23 be) - Berlin, 04.1925

35. FÜNF GEDICHTE (Wagner / Wesendonck), 1: Der Engel

DGG 72979 [B 24261] (mx. 21 be) - Berlin, 04.1925

36. FÜNF GEDICHTE (Wagner / Wesendonck), 3: Im Treibhaus

DGG 72979 [B 24262] (mx. 20 be) - Berlin, 04.1925

37. FÜNF GEDICHTE (Wagner / Wesendonck), 4: Schmerzen

DGG 65746 [B 24186] (mx. 680 as) - Berlin, ca.03.1922

38. FÜNF GEDICHTE (Wagner / Wesendonck), 5: Träume

DGG 65746 [B 24187] (mx. 681 as) - Berlin, ca.03.1922

39. ARIADNE AUF NAXOS (Strauss), Act II: Es gibt ein Reich

DGG 72976 [B 24256] (mx. 883 az) - Berlin, 04.1925

Electric Recordings

40. TANNHÄUSER (Wagner), Act II: Dich, teure Halle

DGG 73052 (mx. 11 bo) - Berlin, ca.09.1926

41. DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner), Act II: Nun zäume dein Roß

Friedrich Schorr (Bar), Leo Blech (cnd), Staatsoper Berlin (orch) –

Electrola EJ 205 [2-044019] (mx. CWR 1116-2) - Berlin, 12.09.1927

42. DIE WALKÜRE (Richard Wagner), Act II: O heilige Schmach!

Electrola EJ 206 [2-044027] (mx. CWR 1117-2) - Berlin, 12.09.1927

43. DIE WALKÜRE (Richard Wagner), Act II: So nimm meinen Segen

Electrola EJ 206 [2-044020] (mx. CWR 1118-2) - Berlin, 12.09.1927

44. DIE WALKÜRE (Richard Wagner), Act III: Rette mich, Kühne!.

Göta Ljungberg (S), Genia Guszalewicz (S), Elfriede Marherr (S), Fleeda Alberti (Ms), Lydia

Kindermann (A), Friedrich Schorr (Bar), Electrola EJ 211 [2-044025] (mx. CWR 1188-2) - Berlin, 29.09.1927

Electrola EJ 212 [2-044021, 2-044022] (mx. CWR 1161-2, CWR 1162-1) - Berlin, 21.09.1927

45. DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner), Act III: War es so schmählich

Electrola [test] (mx. CWR 1190-1) - Berlin, 29.09.1927

46. DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner), Act III: War es so schmählich

Electrola EJ 213 [2-043082] (mx. CWR 1190-5) - Berlin, 01.11.1927

47. DIE WALKÜRE (Wagner), Act III: Du zeugtest ein edles Geschlecht [D]

Electrola EJ 213 [2-044026] (mx. CWR 1189-3) - Berlin, 01.11.1927

48. SIEGFRIED (Wagner), Act III: Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht! [C]

Rudolf Laubenthal (T), -Electrola EJ 371 [2-044014] (mx. CWR 1064-2) - Berlin, 27.08.1927

49. SIEGFRIED (Wagner), Act III: Ewig war ich, ewig bin ich [e]

Electrola EJ 370 [2-044040] (mx. CWR 1065-2) - Berlin, 27.08.1927

50 SIEGFRIED (Wagner), Act III: O Siegfried! Dein war ich von je

Electrola EJ 370 [2-044018] (mx. CWR 1066-1) - Berlin, 27.08.1927

51. Richard Wagner, Traume

May 11, 1928 DB1553, CR2011-1

52. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Don Giovanni, Or sai chi l'onore

May 8, 1928, HMV D 1547 [2-053325] (mx. CR 2010-1) - London, Queen's Hall,

53. Christoph Willibald Gluck Armide, Ah! si la liberté

May 11, 1928 HMV D 1547 [2-033133] (mx. CR 2012-2) -
London, Queen's Hall

54. Ludwig van Beethoven Fidelio, Abscheulicher, wo eilst du bin?

May 8, 1928 HMV D 1497 [2-043096, 2-043097]
(mx. Cc 12956-1, Cc 12957-1) - London, Small Queen's Hall, Studio C

55. Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde, Doch nun von Tristan!

Nov 8, 1928 Electrola EJ 301[2-044053, 2-044052] (mx. CLR 4722-1, CLR 4723-2) - Berlin

56. Richard Wagner Die Götterdämmerung Schweigt eures Jammers jauchzenden … Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort

Nov 8 and 26, 1928 Electrola EJ 420, EJ 421[2-043115, 2-043112, 2-043113, 2-043114] (mx. CLR 4724-2, CLR 4666-2, CLR 4667-3, CLR 4668-1)

58. Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde, Isolde! Tristan!...O sink hernieder

May 6 (London) & Sept 13 (Berlin), 1929 Electrola EJ 482
[32-768, 32-769] (mx. CLR 5612-1, CLR 5613-1) - HMV [test], D 1724
[2-044056] (mx. Cc 16619-2, Cc 16620-2) HMV D 1724 [2-044058] (mx. Cc 16621-1) w. Lauritz Melchior

59. Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde, Mild und leise

May 18, 1931 HMV DB1545 [32-2223 (mx. 2B904-1)] London.

60. Richard Wagner, Parsifal Ich sah das kind May 18, 1931 HMV DB 1545 [32-2222] (mx 2B903-2)

61. Richard Wagner Schmerzen May 18, 1931, 2B906-1, DB1553

62. Franz Schubert Erlkönig, D. 328 (Op. 1) Dec 1940, 2RA 4841 DB5625

63. Franz Schubert Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D. 774 (Op. 72) Dec 1940, 2RA 4840 DB5625

64. Robert Schumann Widmung Op. 25/1 Dec 1940, 2RA 4839 DB5626

65. Robert Schumann Marienwürmchen, Op. 79/13 Dec 1940, 2RA 4838 DB5626

66. Robert Schumann Meine Rose Dec 1940, 2RA 4839 DB5626

67. Franz Schubert Frühlingstraum Jan 1942 2RA5332

68. Hugo Wolf, Wie Glänzt der helle Mond Jan 1942 2RA5334

69. Robert Schumann, Der Nußbaum Jan 1942, 2RA533

70. Hugo Wolf Mignons Gesang Jan 1942 2RA5335

71. Robert Schumann Erstes Grun March 23, 1944 Radio recording

72. Robert Schumann Die blume der Ergebung March 23, 1944 Radio recording

73. Robert Schumann Einsamkeit March 23, 1944 Radio recording

74. Robert Schumann Mond, due meiner seele liebling March 23, 1944 Radio recording

75. Robert Schumann Viel Glück zur Reise Schwalben March 23, 1944 Radio recording

76. Robert Schumann Du nennst mich armes mädchen March 23, 1944 Radio recording

77. Robert Schumann Die Fensterscheibe March 23, 1944 Radio recording

78. Robert Schumann Signet nicht in trauertönen March 23, 1944 Radio recording

79. Robert Schumann Das verlasse mägdelein March 23, 1944 Radio recording

80. Robert Schumann Die männer sind méchant March 23, 1944 Radio recording