Wagner Tristan und Isolde - Flagstad/Furtwangler 1952

[Barbirollians]

This legendary recording surely lives up to its hype . One is almost exhausted with passion by the end of the Prelude - Suthaus is heroic in a way no modern tenor seems able to match and the matronly in age Flagstad - what singing, and what diction .

Not bad for a fiver from HMV .

Any other views ?

[Mr Pee]

This was the recording that really ignited the Wagner bug in me, many years ago. Superb.

[robk]

Sounds too good to miss but I can't find it for a fiver. What label is it on?

[amateur51]

... the necessary link please?

[Barbirollians]

It was £4.99 in that classical HMV sale a couple of weeks back - still going for less than a tenner though .

The clarity of the texture is just amazing in Furtwangler's conducting - it takes your breath away. Are his Ring cycles like this?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The clarity of the texture is just amazing in Furtwangler's conducting - it takes your breath away. Are his Ring cycles like this?

Yes; but, alas, without the sound quality.

Totally agree with your comments on this magnificent performance. For once it isn't "hype", just one of those recordings that has to use the language that hype has
(mis)appropriated.

Best Wishes.

[Barbirollians]

Which Furtwangler Ring is most recommended - the 1950 or 1953 and in which remastering ? Anyone able to help ?

The Pristine Classical one appears to be prohibitively expensive

[Barbirollians]

Sorry to bang on about this again but I have not listened to it for a while but am always blown away by it when I do . Suthaus and Flagstad are superb , the recording amazing for its time , the playing by the Philharmonia beyond praise and Furtwangler not whipping things up but letting the passion come from the music itself .

[Karafan]

Sorry to bang on about this again but I have not listened to it for a while but am always blown away by it when I do . Suthaus and Flagstad are superb , the recording amazing for its time , the playing by the Philharmonia beyond praise and Furtwangler not whipping things up but letting the passion come from the music itself .

I can only heartily concur, Barbirollians: superb set!

[Nick Armstrong]

This was the recording that really ignited the Wagner bug in me

I've never heard the phrase 'igniting the bug' before... Sounds rather cruel.

[Beef Oven]

Sorry to bang on about this again but I have not listened to it for a while but am always blown away by it when I do . Suthaus and Flagstad are superb , the recording amazing for its time , the playing by the Philharmonia beyond praise and Furtwangler not whipping things up but letting the passion come from the music itself .

Egg wetter gree!

When I finally came to this recording when Naxos released it, I was utterly blown away. Ineffably perfect.

[Richard Tarleton]

My no. 1 recording. I have Schwarzkopf's high Cs in Act 2 marked in my score to remind myself they're there

[Resurrection Man]

Presto are showing two CDs on different labels but the cast etc seem the same. One is on EMI and the other Brilliant. Can anyone please shed any light before I go and buy the wrong one!

[Barbirollians]

The EMI one is down to about £9 on Amazon from a seller - i would go for that .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Presto are showing two CDs on different labels but the cast etc seem the same. One is on EMI and the other Brilliant. Can anyone please shed any light before I go and buy the wrong one!

Three versions of the WF Tristan appeared at the same time: EMI, Naxos and Regis. There was a feature on CDReview which illustrated some serious droops in dynamics mid-way through a phrase and said that this was typical. If this is the source of the Brilliant issue, avoid! Honours were equally shared between EMI & Naxos, with the reviewer expressing a personal preference for EMI, which I bought for just under £20. A bargain even at that price - it's the version I play when I want to hear Tristan for all the reasoins noted by others. At £9 (or even a Fiver!) you won't go wrong.

Best Wishes.