2022 Beren und Lúthien (Gert Heidenreich, Timmo Niesner)

Beren and Lúthien

Release Date: 2022.06.27
Readers: Gert Heidenreich & Timmo Niesner
Language: German
Translators: Hans-Ulrich Möhring & Helmut W. Pesch
Organization: Der Hörverlag
Copyright: (c) 2021 Klett-Cotta Verlag
ISBN: 9783844545661
Duration: 7 hours 6 minutes
Unabridged: Yes
Country: Germany
Licenced: Yes
Format: CD

This production utilizes a dual-narrator system to mirror the structure of Christopher Tolkien’s editorial work. Since Beren und Lúthien is not a single continuous novel but a collection of evolving drafts and academic commentary, the producers used the narrators to distinguish the “layers” of the text:

Timmo Niesner (The “Mythic” Voice): Niesner reads the actual legends, poems, and prose drafts by J.R.R. Tolkien. When the text shifts from Christopher’s explanation into the Lay of Leithian or the Tale of Tinúviel, Niesner takes over. Since this volume includes the earliest versions of the story (where the villain is a giant cat named Tevildo rather than Sauron), Niesner has the opportunity to voice these more “fairytale-like” early drafts, which he does with a slightly more whimsical, yet still epic, tone.

Gert Heidenreich (The “Scholarly” Voice): Heidenreich (see profile page) reads the commentary and analysis by Christopher Tolkien. His deep, sonorous baritone provides the “authoritative” frame, guiding the listener through the history of how the story changed over decades.

Timmo Niesner, born in 1971, had his breakthrough at the age of 12 in the television series “Ich heirate eine Familie” (I’m Marrying a Family). He has also worked extensively as a voice actor most notably as the German dubbing voice of Elijah Wood. Other works include roles in ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, Danish Girl, The Theory of Everything, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond.

They had previously worked together on Nachrichten aus Mittelerde (Unfinished Tales) and would again on Der Untergang von Númenor (The Fall of Númenor) and Der Fall von Gondolin (The Fall of Gondolin).

The physical MP3-CD edition includes a 31-page booklet featuring a glossary and illustrations by Alan Lee, which the narrators frequently reference through their distinct indexing pauses.

Release History:

2022.06.279783844545661Digital
2022.06.279783844545654MP3-CD