Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde) - Richard Wagner
Information about the opera Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Recommended recordings on CD
Pappano/Domingo/Stemme (EMI Classics 7243 558 006-2)
Fulfils expectations; Plácido Domingo gives a powerful, moving performance as Tristan, and Nina Stemme is an outstanding Isolde. Includes a bonus DVD of the opera recorded in DTS 5.1 surround sound with an on-screen libretto.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano, 2004.
Cast: Plácido Domingo (Tristan), Nina Stemme (Isolde), Mihoko Fujimura (Brangäne), Olaf Bär (Kurwenal), René Pape (König Marke).
EMI Classics 7243 558 006-2
Segerstam/Millgramm/Fassbender (Naxos 8.660152-54)
A well recorded modern version by the Royal Swedish Opera with excellent sound, and a superbly moving Isolde.
Royal Swedish Opera Male Chorus, Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra, conducted by Leif Segerstam.
Cast: Wolfgang Millgramm (Tristan), Hedwig Fassbender (Isolde), Martina Dike (Brangäne), Gunnar Lundberg (Kurwenal), Lennart Forsén (König Marke).
Naxos 8.660152-54
Furtwängler/Suthaus/Flagstad (Naxos Historical 8.110321-24)
This is the same recording as Tristan und Isolde (c. Furtwängler). Although it's mono, the sound quality is very good.
Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler, 1952.
Cast: Ludwig Suthaus (Tristan), Kirsten Flagstad (Isolde), Blanche Thebom (Brangäne), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Kurwenal), Josef Greindl (König Marke).
Naxos Historical 8.110321-24 (mono)
Furtwängler/Suthaus/Flagstad (EMI CMS5 67621-1)
The original, classic mono recording of Tristan and Isolde is for many still the supreme version.
Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler, 1952.
Cast: Ludwig Suthaus (Tristan), Kirsten Flagstad (Isolde), Blanche Thebom (Brangäne), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Kurwenal), Josef Greindl (König Marke).
EMI CMS5 67621-1 (mono)
Böhm/Windgassen/Nilsson (Deutsche Grammophon 449 772-2)
An intense and extremely well recorded live performance from the 1966 Bayreuth Festival.
Bayreuth Festival Chorus, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Karl Böhm, 1966.
Cast: Wolfgang Windgassen (Tristan), Birgit Nilsson (Isolde), Christa Ludwig (Brangäne), Eberhard Wächter (Kurwenal), Martti Talvela (König Marke).
Deutsche Grammophon 449 772-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Barenboim/Kollo/Meier (Deutsche Grammophon 073 4321GH2)
A traditional production from Bayreuth with a superb set and costumes, a glorious Isolde, a charismatic Tristan, and wonderful playing from the orchestra. Recommended as the best Tristan and Isolde currently available on DVD.
Bayreuth Festival Chorus, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, 1983.
Cast: René Kollo (Tristan), Johanna Meier (Isolde), Hanna Schwarz (Brangäne), Hermann Becht (Kurwenal), Matti Salminen (König Marke).
Deutsche Grammophon 073 4321GH2
Billy/Treleaven/Polaski (Opus Arte OA 0935 D)
Recorded live at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, in 2002.
Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Theatre del Liceu, Chorus of the Gran Theatre del Liceu, conducted by Bertrand de Billy, 2002.
Cast: John Treleaven (Tristan), Deborah Polaski (Isolde), Lioba Braun (Brangäne), Falk Struckmann (Kurwenal), Eric Halfvarson (König Marke).
Opus Arte OA 0935 D