Torsten Ralf

His full name was Torsten Ivar Ralf. He had seven siblings, among whom three – Oscar (1881–1964), Einar (1888–1971) and Filip (an amateur tenor) – were involved in Swedish musical life.

After finishing his schooling, Ralf moved to Stockholm and worked 1920–29 for the national telephone company as a telegraph assistant. In 1921 and 1922, Ralf he took some lessons, which he did not like, from John Forsell. Ralf moved to another pedagogue Haldis Ingebjart (1891–1978). Haldis Ingebjart was Norwegian and also taught Ivar Andrésen, Kirsten Flagstad, Sven Nilsson and many other successful singers.

During the 1920s, Torsten kept his job as telegraph assistant, however in February 1929 he appeared as a soloist in the Stockholm Concert Association and was now ready for a career in opera.

Around 1929, Ralf moved to Germany, then in an uncertain situation economically and politically. He continued his studies with Hertha Dehmlow (born 1877, who sang Erda in the 1909 Ring in Bayreuth). Torsten made his début in Stettin in 1930 as Cavaradossi. He stayed there until 1932. In 1932, Ralf moved to Chemnitz and then to Frankfurt am Main (1933–35).

During the first part of his career, Ralf sang lyric roles like Ottavio, Tamino, Duca, Alfredo, before graduating to heavier parts. Ralf also started to appear as a guest in German theatres, besides singing the Verdi Requiem in December 1931 in Stockholm. He auditioned (singing Lohengrin and Tamino) for Forsell, director of the Stockholm Opera, who rejected him, finding his voice guttural. Ralf made his debut with the Stockholm Opera only in March 1941, after Forsell had left his position in summer 1939.

In April 1935, Ralf sang Radames and Lohengrin with the Vienna State Opera under Felix von Weingartner.

His Vienna career evolved as follows:

Aida
9 April 1935 with Zdenka Zika, Franz Markhoff, Martha Krasowa, Josef von Manowarda, Alexander Svéd, William Wernigk, Eva Hadabova, Felix von Weintgartner
27 October 1935 with Maria Nemeth, Franz Markhoff, Kerstin Thorborg, Karl Norbert, Emil Schipper, Ernst Kurz, Luise Helletsgruber, Josef Krips
1 January 1940 with Helena Braun, Franz Worff, Mela Bugarinovic, Herbert Alsen, Karl Kamann, Willy Franter, Luise Helletsgruber, Hans Knappertsbusch
19 October 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien) with Hilde Zadek, Ljubomir Pantscheff, Elisabeth Höngen, Endre Koréh, George London, William Wernigk, Friedl Riegler, Wilhelm Loibner
25 February 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien) with Carla Martinis, Marjan Rus, Elisabeth Höngen, Herbert Alsen, Karl Kamann, Erich Majkut, Berta Seidl, Otto Ackermann
8 October 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien) with Carla Martinis, Herbert Alsen, Elisabeth Höngen, Gottlob Frick, Theo Baylé, Fritz Sperlbauer, Berta Seidl, Wilhelm Loibner

Lohengrin
24 April 1935 with Ludwig Hofmann, Zdenka Zika, Rose Merker, Viktor Madin, Anton Arnold, Fred Destal, William Wernigk, Josef Knapp, Alfred Muzzarelli, Felix von Weingartner
11 February 1936
26 May 1936
8 October 1936
4 November 1937
7 December 1937
4 May 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
28 May 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
12 October 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
21 May 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
24 November 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
16 March 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
8 April 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
26 April 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
30 October 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
23 November 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
3 December 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
12 December 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
9 March 1943 for a total of 3 until 19 January 1944 (with Maria Reining, Josef Herrmann, Karl Böhm)
30 April 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien) for total of 15 until 7 December 1952

Otello
11 March 1943
7 May 1950 for a total of 18 until 18 November 1953

Tosca
14 May 1943
20 November 1943
21 November 1950 with Christel Goltz, Hermann Uhde, Hans Braun, Viktor Madin, William Wernigk, Harald Pröglhöf, Ludwig Verlik, Ljubomir Pantscheff, Else Schürhoff, Rudolf Moralt
1 February 1951
12 April 1951
15 April 1951
11 May 1951
13 October 1951

Tiefland
20 May 1943 with Karl Kamann, Sigmund Roth, Viktor Madin, Anny Konetzni, Daga Söderquist, Elisabeth Rutgers, Willy Franter, Leopold Reichwein
9 November 1943
10 December 1943
10 February 1944
21 April 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
28 November 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)

Daphne (as Apollo)
26 May 1943 with Herbert Alsen, Melanie Frutschnigg, Maria Reining, Anton Dermota, Karl Böhm
1 June 1943 with Herbert Alsen, Melanie Frutschnigg, Maria Reining, Anton Dermota, Karl Böhm
26 June 1943 with Herbert Alsen, Melanie Frutschnigg, Maria Cebotari, Anton Dermota, Karl Böhm
8 February 1944 with Herbert Alsen, Hedwig Fichtmüller, Maria Cebotari, Anton Dermota, Karl Böhm
13 November 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien) with Herbert Alsen, Else Schürhoff, Annelies Kupper, Anton Dermota, Rudolf Moralt
19 December 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien) with Herbert Alsen, Else Schürhoff, Annelies Kupper, Anton Dermota, Rudolf Moralt

Ariadne auf Naxos
24 September 1943 with Alfred Muzzarelli, Alfred Jerger, Nora Jungwirth, Alda Noni, Anny Konetzni, Rudolf Moralt
22 February 1944 with Alfred Muzzarelli, Paul Schöffler, Irmgard Seefried, Alda Noni, Maria Reining, Karl Böhm
26 October 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien) with Alfred Muzzarelli, Alfred Poell, Sena Jurinac, Wilma Lipp, Hilde Zadek, Clemens Krauss
26 November 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien) with Alfred Muzzarelli, Alfred Poell, Sena Jurinac, Wilma Lipp, Maria Reining, Felix Prohaska

Die Zauberflöte
3 November 1943

Pagliacci
4 November 1943 with Daniza Ilitsch, Josef Herrmann, Peter Klein, Georg Monthy, Hermann Baier, Anton Paulik
26 April 1944
4 December 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
19 February 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
7 September 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
14 September 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
11 October 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
16 April 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
14 October 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)

Die Frau ohne Schatten
11 November 1943 for a total of 5 until April 27, 1944
23 November 1943 with Hilde Konetzni, Else Schulz, Elisabeth Höngen, Josef Herrmann, Karl Böm

Fidelio
6 February 1944
27 May 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
28 October 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
1 November 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
23 November 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
27 November 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
25 January 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
7 February 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
22 February 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
5 March 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
12 March 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
14 March 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
8 April 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
29 November 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
1 March 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
13 March 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
26 March 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
13 November 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
17 November 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)

Tannhäuser
13 May 1950 for a total of 12 until 23 March 1952

Elektra
12 February 1951

Der fliegende Holländer (as Erik)
13 December 1950 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
7 October 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
10 November 1951 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
12 March 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
20 March 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)
4 November 1952 (Staatsoper im Theater an der Wien)

Die Walküre
7 March 1952
29 March 1952

Dresden

Ralf was hired by Karl Böhm for Dresden where he made his debut in 1935 and remained there until all German theatres were closed in 1944 due to the war. Ralf sang there Radames, Otello, Canio, José, Florestan, Pedro, Bacchus, Kaiser, Lohengrin, Tannhäuser, Stolzing, ...
Ariadne auf Naxos on 4 September 1935
Der verlorene Sohn on 31 March 1936 with Nilsson, Cebotari, Schöffker, Fuchs, Tessmer, Schmalnauer, Greiner, Trötschel, Vogel, Lange, Büssel, Kremer, Ermold, Eybisch, Karl Böhm
Massimilla Doni on 2 March 1937 with Erna Sack, Kurt Böhme, Dittrich, Schellenberg, Hüni-Mihacsek, Tessmer, Karl Böhm
Die Wirtin von Pinsk on 10 February 1938 with Rohs, Kremer, Böhme, Schellenberg, Clairfired, Koettrik, Schmalmauer, Büssel, Eippel, Dölitzsch, Bellmann, Zimmermann, Karl Böhm
Daphne on 15 October 1938 with Kremer, Teschemacher, Nilsson, Jung, Kolniak, Schellenberg, Tessmer, Löbel, Händel, Rohs, Karl Böhm
La fanciulla del West on 16 June 1940, Striegler
Die Frau ohne Schatten on 9 June 1942 with Karl Böhm
Die Zauberinsel on 31 October 1942 with Teschemacher, Böhme, Büssel, Pflanzl, Frick, Herrmann, Höngen, Karl Böhm

From about 1935, he had made regular guest appearances in many theatres, probably also in Switzerland (Zürich), Yugoslavia, Anvers, Copenhagen,... Ralf made a tour to the US with Joel Berglund in 1936. No more data available at this time.

München

Don Carlo on 4 December 1937 with Clemens Krauss
Lohengrin on 9 July 1938 with Krauss conducting. Hitler was present, the staging had been made under his supervision. The gala performance took place on the occasion of the Nazi culture festival Tag der Deutschen Kunst

Berlin, Staatsoper

Daphne on 8 March 1939

Ralf remained in Germany (including Austria) until 1944. When he finally appeared with the Stockholm Opera on 24 March 1941 as Tannhäuser, he commuted between Dresden, Vienna and Stockholm. On 12 April 1944 he sang in a Stockholm concert as tenor soloist in Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde. After the war, Ralf was signed up by the Met, where he made his debut as Lohengrin.

Metropolitan Opera (and tours)

Lohengrin on 26 November 1945 with Helen Traubel, Kerstin Thorborg, Herbert Janssen, Norman Cordon, Hugh Thompson, Fritz Busch
Lohengrin on 8 December 1945 with Helen Traubel, Kerstin Thorborg, Herbert Janssen, Nicola Moscona, Hugh Thompson, Fritz Busch
Tannhäuser Philadelphia on 18 December 1945 with Astrid Varnay, Alexander Sved, Blanche Thebom, Norman Cordon, John Garris, Karl Laufkötter, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Otello on 23 February 1946 with Stella Roman, Leonard Warren, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, Kenneth Schon, Anthony Marlowe, Wellington Ezekiel, George Szell
Tannhäuser on 27 February 1946 with Astrid Varnay, Herbert Janssen, Kerstin Thorborg, Norman Cordon, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Gerhard Pechner, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Parsifal on 6 March 1946 with Kerstin Thorborg, Herbert Janssen, Alexander Kipnis, Walter Olitzki, Nicola Moscona, Margaret Harshaw, Marita Farell, Lucielle Browning, John Garris, Anthony Marlowe, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Irene Jessner, Christina Carroll, Mona Paulee, Marita Farell, Maxine Stellman, Lucielle Browning, Emil Cooper
Die Meistersinger on 8 March 1946 with Joel Berglund, Eleanor Steber, Kerstin Thorborg, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Emanuel List, Kenneth Schon, Anthony Marlowe, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Richard Manning, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, Lorenzo Alvary, Wellington Ezekiel, Louis D'Angelo, George Szell
Otello on 11 March 1946 with Stella Roman, Leonard Warren, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, Willian Hargrave, Anthony Marlowe, Wellington Ezekiel, George Szell
Otello Philadelphia on 19 March 1946 with Stella Roman, Leonard Warren, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, Willian Hargrave, Anthony Marlowe, Wellington Ezekiel, George Szell
Tannhäuser on 23 March 1946 with Astrid Varnay, Julius Huehn, Blanche Thebom, Norman Cordon, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Die Meistersinger Philadelphia on 26 March 1946 with with Joel Berglund, Eleanor Steber, Kerstin Thorborg, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Emanuel List, Mack Harrell, Anthony Marlowe, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Richard Manning, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, Lorenzo Alvary, Wellington Ezekiel, Louis D'Angelo, Paul Breisach
Otello on 29 March 1946 with Stella Roman, Leonard Warren, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, Willian Hargrave, Anthony Marlowe, Wellington Ezekiel, George Szell
Tannhäuser Baltimore on 2 April 1946 with Astrid Varnay, Martial Singher, Kerstin Thorborg, Norman Cordon, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Tannhäuser Boston with 4 April 1946 with Helen Traubel, Herbert Janssen, Blanche Thebom, Norman Cordon, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Die Meistersinger Boston on 9 April 1946 with with Herbert Janssen, Eleanor Steber, Kerstin Thorborg, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Emanuel List, Kenneth Schon, Anthony Marlowe, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Richard Manning, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, Lorenzo Alvary,
Die Walküre Boston on 12 April 1946 with Helen Traubel, Astrid Varnay, Herbert Janssen, Kerstin Thorborg, Emanuel List, Thelma Votipka, Martha Lipton, Beal Hober, Irene Jessner, Lucielle Browning, Margaret Harshaw, Hertha Glaz, Jeanne Palmer, Paul Breisach
Parsifal Philadelphia on 16 April 1946 with Kerstin Thorborg, Martial Singher, Alexander Kipnis, Gerhard Pechner, Nicola Moscona, Margaret Harshaw, Marita Farell, Lucielle Browning, John Garris, Anthony Marlowe, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Lucielle Browning, Marita Farell, Irene Jessner, Mona Paulee, Florence Quartararo, Maxine Stellman, Emil Cooper
Parsifal on 19 April 1946 with Kerstin Thorborg, Martial Singher, Alexander Kipnis, Gerhard Pechner, Nicola Moscona, Margaret Harshaw, Marita Farell, Lucielle Browning, John Garris, Anthony Marlowe, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Lucielle Browning, Marita Farell, Irene Jessner, Mona Paulee, Florence Quartararo, Maxine Stellman, Emil Cooper
Tannhäuser Cleveland on 23 April 1946 with Helen Traubel, Martial Singher, Kerstin Thorborg, Alexander Kipnis, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Tannhäuser Bloomington on 29 April 1946 with Helen Traubel, Alexander Sved, Kerstin Thorborg, Norman Cordon, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Tannhäuser Minneapolis on 2 May 1946 with Helen Traubel, Alexander Sved, Kerstin Thorborg, Norman Cordon, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Tannhäuser Chicago on 6 May 1946 with Helen Traubel, Martial Singher, Kerstin Thorborg, Alexander Kipnis, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Die Walküre Chicago on 10 May 1946 with Helen Traubel, Astrid Varnay, Osie Hawkins, Kerstin Thorborg, Norman Cordon, Thelma Votipka, Martha Lipton, Regina Resnik, Maxine Stellman, Lucielle Browning, Margaret Harshaw, Thelma Altman, Jeanne Palmer, Paul Breisach
Tannhäuser Saint Louis on 13 May 1946 with with Helen Traubel, Martial Singher, Kerstin Thorborg, Norman Cordon, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Wellington Ezekiel, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Busch
Otello on 16 November 1946 with Stella Roman, Leonard Warren, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, William Hargrave, Anthony Marlowe, Philip Kinsman, Fritz Busch
Otello on 22 November 1946 with Stella Roman, Leonard Warren, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, William Hargrave, Anthony Marlowe, Philip Kinsman, Fritz Busch
Die Walküre on 5 December 1946 with Helen Traubel, Astrid Varnay, Joel Berglund, Margaret Harshaw, Emanuel List, Thelma Votipka, Martha Lipton, Regina Resnik, Irene Jessner, Thelma Altman, Margaret Harshaw, Hertha Glaz, Jeanne Palmer, Fritz Stiedry
Lohengrin on 26 December 1946 with Astrid Varnay, Margaret Harshaw, Herbert Janssen, Dezsö Ernster, Mack Harrell, Fritz Busch
Otello on 9 January 1947 with with Florence Quartararo, Lawrence Tibbett, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, Kenneth Schon, Thomas Hayward, Philip Kinsman, Fritz Busch
Lohengrin on 14 January 1947 with Helen Traubel, Margaret Harshaw, Herbert Janssen, Dezsö Ernster, Mack Harrell, Max Rudolf
Die Walküre on 17 January 1947 with with Helen Traubel, Astrid Varnay, Joel Berglund, Blanche Thebom, Mihály Székely, Thelma Votipka, Martha Lipton, Maxine Stellman, Irene Jessner, Lucielle Browning, Margaret Harshaw, Hertha Glaz, Jeanne Palmer, Fritz Stiedry
Die Meistersinger on 17 February 1947 with Herbert Janssen, Astrid Varnay, Martha Lipton, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Dezsö Ernster, Mack Harrell, Thomas Hayward, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Leslie Chabay, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, William Hargrave, Philip Kinsman, Fritz Busch
Otello on 22 February 1947 with Florence Quartararo, Leonard Warren, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, Kenneth Schon, Anthony Marlowe, Philip Kinsman, Fritz Busch
Die Meistersinger on 26 February 1947 with Herbert Janssen, Astrid Varnay, Margaret Harshaw, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Dezsö Ernster, Mack Harrell, Thomas Hayward, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Felix Knight, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, William Hargrave, Philip Kinsman, Fritz Busch
Tristan und Isolde Philadelphia on 4 March 1947 with Helen Traubel, Herbert Janssen, Margaret Harshaw, Dezsö Ernster, Emery Darcy, Leslie Chabay, Gerhard Pechner, Fritz Busch
Parsifal on 13 March 1947 with Rose Bampton, Mack Harrell, Joel Berglund, Gerhard Pechner, Dezsö Ernster, Margaret Harshaw, Mimi Benzell, Irene Jordan, John Garris, Leslie Chabay, Felix Knight, Osie Hawkins, Mary Henderson, Florence Quartararo, Hertha Glaz, Mimi Benzell, Irene Jordan, Lucielle Browning, Fritz Stiedry
Otello Boston on 28 March 1947 with Daniza Ilitsch, Leonard Warren, Martha Lipton, Alessio De Paolis, Nicola Moscona, William Hargrave, Thomas Hayward, Philip Kinsman, Fritz Busch
Lohengrin Minneapolis on 18 April 1947 with Hellen Traubel, Margaret Harshaw, Herbert Janssen, Dezsö Ernster, Hugh Thompson, Fritz Busch
Lohengrin Dallas on 2 May 1947 with Hellen Traubel, Margaret Harshaw, Herbert Janssen, Dezsö Ernster, Hugh Thompson, Fritz Busch
Lohengrin Saint Louis on 14 May 1947 with with Hellen Traubel, Margaret Harshaw, Herbert Janssen, Dezsö Ernster, Hugh Thompson, Fritz Busch
Tannhäuser on 13 November 1947 with Astrid Varnay, Herbert Janssen, Blanche Thebom, Dezsö Ernster, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Philip Kinsman, Maxine Stellman, Wolfgang Martin
Die Meistersinger on 21 November 1947 with Herbert Janssen, Astrid Varnay, Margaret Harshaw, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Dezsö Ernster, Mack Harrell, Thomas Hayward, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Leslie Chabay, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, Lorenzo Alvary, Jerome Hines, Philip Kinsman, Wolfgang Martin
Die Meistersinger Philadelphia on 25 November 1947 with Herbert Janssen, Polyna Stoska, Margaret Harshaw, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Dezsö Ernster, Mack Harrell, Thomas Hayward, Hugh Thompson, George Cehanovsky, Leslie Chabay, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, Lorenzo Alvary, Jerome Hines, Philip Kinsman, Wolfgang Martin
Die Meistersinger on 29 November 1947 with Herbert Janssen, Polyna Stoska, Margaret Harshaw, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Dezsö Ernster, Mack Harrell, Thomas Hayward, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Leslie Chabay, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, Lorenzo Alvary, Jerome Hines, Philip Kinsman, Wolfgang Martin
Aida on 5 December 1947 with Daniza Ilitsch, Margaret Harshaw, Leonard Warren, Giacomo Vaghi, Philip Kinsman, Anthony Marlowe, Thelma Votipka, Emil Cooper
Die Meistersinger on 13 December 1947 with Joel Berglund, Polyna Stoska, Martha Lipton, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Dezsö Ernster, Kenneth Schon, Thomas Hayward, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Leslie Chabay, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, Lorenzo Alvary, Jerome Hines, Philip Kinsman, Wolfgang Martin
Tannhäuser on 27 December 1947 with Polyna Stoska, Herbert Janssen, Astrid Varnay, Mihály Székely, John Garris, Emery Darcy, Osie Hawkins, Philip Kinsman, Maxine Stellman, Fritz Stiedry
Aida on 30 December 1947 with Stella Roman, Blanche Thebom, Robert Merrill, Giacomo Vaghi, Philip Kinsman, Lodovico Oliviero, Thelma Votipka, Emil Cooper
Aida on 12 January 1948 with Stella Roman, Blanche Thebom, Giuseppe Valdengo, Giacomo Vaghi, Philip Kinsman, Lodovico Oliviero, Thelma Votipka, Emil Cooper
Die Meistersinger on 15 January 1948 with Joel Berglund, Polyna Stoska, Margaret Harshaw, John Garris, Gerhard Pechner, Dezsö Ernster, Mack Harrell, Thomas Hayward, Hugh Thompson, Osie Hawkins, Leslie Chabay, Lodovico Oliviero, Emery Darcy, Lorenzo Alvary, Jerome Hines, Philip Kinsman, Fritz Busch

Between Met seasons, Ralf came to...
Buenos Aires, Teatro Colón:
Die Meistersinger on 27/31 August-4/8/11 September 1946 with Herbert Janssen, Emanuel List, Jorge Dantón, Koloman von Pataky, Carlos Feller, Federico Lechner, Vittorio Bacciato, Rogelio Baldrich, Virgilio Tavini, Carlos Giusti, Angel Mattiello, Juan Zanin, Juan Cairo, Roberto Maggiolo/ Alvaro Bandini, Rose Bampton, Lydia Kindermann, Juan Zanin/Carlos Feller, Erich Kleiber
Parsifal on 17/20/22/25/28 September 1946 with Herbert Janssen, Jorge Dantón, Emanuel List, Felipe Romito/Vittorio Bacciato,Rose Bampton, Humberto Di Toto, Carlos Feller, Consuelo Ramos,Tota de Igarzábal, Virgilio Tavini, Héctor Barbieri, Amanda Cetera, Nilda Hoffmann,María de Benedictis, Olga Chelavine, Mafalda Rinaldi, Zaira Negroni, Norma Palmieri, Lydia Kindermann, Erich Kleiber

Santiago, Municipale

Die Walküre on 4/6 October 1946 with Jeanne Palmer, Wanda Werminska, Marion Mattheaus, Frederick Destal, Deszo Ernster, Thomas Gunther Mayer

Chicago, Opera (San Carlo Opera Company)

Lohengrin on 13 October 1946 with Astrid Varnay, Ellen Repp, William Wilderman, Stefan Ballerini, Ralph Telasko, Carl Bamberger

Barcelona, Liceu

Tannhäuser on 12/15/17/18 February 1948 with Lubomir Vischegonov, Andreas Boehm, Heinz Rehfüss (Wolfram/Biterolf), Walter Niklaus, Erick Fuchs (Biterolf/Reinmar), Roland Münch, Fernando Linares, Victoria de los Angeles, Livia Feher Peri, Carmen Gombau, Blanca Baña, Lina Castañeda, Mercedes González, Mercedes Oviedo, Kurt Rothenbühier (dm)

Ralf also sang in Bruxelles, Geneva, and Rome:

Bruxelles, Monnaie

Tristan und Isolde on 9 March 1951 as Stimme des Seemanns with V. Fitchmüller, Illosway, G. Fassnacht, A. Pernerstorfer, A. Böhm, Otto Ackermann

Roma, Constanzi

Tannhäuser on 24/28 March-1/4 April 1951 with Alfred Poell, Erich Majkut, Adolf Vogel, Peter Baxevanos, Ljubomir Pantscheff, Maria Reining, Ira Malaniuk, Henny Herze, Hans Knappertsbusch

Genève, Victoria Hall

Die Walküre on 4 May 1951 with Helene Werth, Gertrude Grob-Prandl, Georgina von Milinkovic, Ludwig Hofmann, Herbert Alsen, Robert Denzler

Ralf sang at Covent Garden first in 1935 to replace another tenor, then until the war began. After the war, he sang only once in 1948 to replace a tenor in Aida.

London, Covent Garden

Lohengrin on 8 May 1935
Ariadne auf Naxos 6 November 1936 with Marta Fuchs Erna Sack, Elsa Wieber, Richard Strauss
Die Meistersinger, Parsifal 1936 (Parsifal: 29 April)
Der fliegender Holländer 1937
Parsifal on 27 April-3 May 1937 with Hebert Janssen, Ludwig Weber, Robert Easton, Fritz Reiner
Der fliegender Holländer, Lohengrin, Die Meistersinger, 1938
Parsifal, Tannhäuser, 1939
Aida on 29 September 1948 with Ljuba Welitsch, Edith Coates, Paoli Silveri

In Stockholm, Ralf appeared first in concert, and at the opera for the first time only when Forsell had left, as Tannhäuser in 1941.

Stockholm

Concert on 27 November 1939
Tannhäuser, Royal Opera House on 22 March 1941
Concert (Das Lied von der Erde) on 12 April 1944 with Lorri Lail, Carl Garaguly
Concert on 15 December 1944
Lohengrin Royal Opera House on 21 April 1945 with Brita Hertzberg, Irma Björk, Sigurd Björling, Leon Björker, Georg Svedebbrant, Leo Blech
Concert (Requiem) on 19/20/21 April 1950 with Birgit Nilsson, Eleonora Collin, Leon Björker, Issay Dobrowen
Concert on 11 December 1951 with Tor Mann 1941–1953, Ralf sang Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Siegmund, Stolzing, Parsifal, Radames, Otello, Canio, Cavaradossi, Pedro
Tannhäuser Royal Opera House on 9 June 1953 with Birgit Nilsson, Siw Ericsdotter, Sigurd Björling, Leon Björker, Sixten Ehrling

Ralf was diagnosed with leukemia in 1947. He survived the disease for seven years, dying in Stockholm on April 27th, 1954.

The Record Collector published an article on Torsten Ralf in December 2013. That article has much less chronlogical data than what is presented on Historical Tenors. It also has a major error regarding a video recording issued on DVD of the Ninth Symphony by Beethoven. The article claims that we cannot establish if the tenor is Ralf or Rosvaenge. Just listen to the DVD, it is not Ralf but Rosvaenge.

This article also introduces the idea that Ralf, like Berglund, was actually a spy working for the Swedish government to cover his artistic activity in Germany during the Nazi reign!!! A search in the Swedish Archives does not reveal any spying activity for Sweden by Ralf.

Reference: Kutsch & Riemens
MET Archives
Wiener Staatsoper archives and Andreas Láng & Oliver Láng Chronik der Wiener Staatsoper, 1869–2009
Michael Hochmuth Chronik der Dresdner Oper, Verlag Dr. Kovac, 1998
Vittorio Frajese Dal Costanzi all'Opera Edizioni Capitolium

I wish to thank Daniele Godor, Guido Bathe and Juan Dzazópulos for their help.

I would like to thank Thomas Silverbörg for the recordings (Tiefland, Lohengrin).

I would like to thank Daniele Godor for the picture and recording (Walküre).