Because it was the Lohengrin of Klaus Florian Vogt who prevailed with 54% of the votes over Lauritz Melchior (who got, subsequently, 46%).
It was not a question about who had/has the bigger career; Melchior or Vogt. The legend of Melchior was/is undisputed. It was about the search for the ideal Lohengrin. The poll was a result of my contemplations about contenders, initially who are still alive, who could give Klaus Florian Vogt a run for his money as Knight of the Swan. And that list was pretty short.
Last year I heard Nikolai Schukoff for De Nationale Opera in this role and how much I loved this Lohengrin production as a whole, it didn't deliver a serious contender for best Lohengrin of this generation. I have a DVD with Placido Domingo singing Lohengrin (under Abbado). It’s beautiful but I doubt if he can pull off the role on stage nowaydays. And then there is of course Jonas Kaufman.
But, long story short, a contest between two singers from different generations looked the most interesting.
For the other contender I went back in time. He is on one of those rare recordings I consider perfect: the first act of Die Walkure under the baton of Bruno Walter with Lotte Lehmann as Sieglinde (see here). His career in Wagner has mammoth dimensions. His Siegmund, Tristan and Siegfried are legendary. I didn't know about his Lohengrin to be honest but some web searching convinced me pretty soon that he would be more than an adequate rival for Vogt. With Lauritz Melchior it would become a clash, not only between generations but also between styles; the Heroic vs the Angelic.
It stayed close to the very end but the voice of Lohengrin Present prevailed over the legendary Wagner singer of the Past.
May they both keep enlighten our ears and redeem our souls with their voices. Cheers!
Klaus Florian Vogt prevailed with 54% of the vote