BaL 18.06.11 - Wagner: Tristan & Isolde

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Roger Vignoles with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde

Available versions:

Domingo, Stemme, ROHO, Pappano
Uhl, Nilsson, VPO, Solti
Vinay, Nilsson, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Böhm
Windgassen, Nillson, Bayreuth Festical Orchestra, Böhm
Suthaus, Flagstad, Philharmonia, Furtwängler
Windgassen, Ligenzda, Orchestra & Chorus of the Württembergische Staatsoper, Kleiber (Carlos)
Kollo, Price, Rundfunkchor Leipzig & Staatskapelle Dresden, Kleiber (Carlos)
Svanholm, Flagstad, Teatro Colón Chorus & Orchestra, Kleiber (Erich)
Treptow, Braun, Orchester und Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Kleiber (Erich)
Treptow, Braun, Staatsoper Munchen, Kleiber (Erich)
Vinay, Harshaw, Metropolitan Opera, Stiedry
Vinay, Varney, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Jochum
Vickers, Dernesch, BPO, Karajan
Windgassen, Nilsson, La Scala, Orchestra & Chorus, Karajan
Vinay, Mödl, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Karajan
Lorenz, Grob-Prandi, La Scala, Orchestra & Chorus, De Sabata
Lustig, Grob-Prandl, Vienna State Opera, Cluytens
Treptowm Braun, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Knappertsbusch
Vinay, Traubel, Reiner
Melchior, Flagstad, LPO, Reiner
Svanholm, Varnay, Metropolitan Oper Orchestra, Kempe
Millgram, Fassbaender, Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra, Segerstam
Treleaven, Brewer, BBC SO, Runnicles
Windgassen, Nillson, Orchestra and Chorus of The Florence Opera, Rodzinsky
Windgassen, Nillson, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Sawallisch
Horand, Bäumer, Chor des Mitteldeutschen Rundfunks, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Konwitchny
Vickers, Nilsson, Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Orchestra, Stein
Gruber, Kuhse, Densen, Vinay, Knela, Thebom; Kraus, Philadelphia Grand Opera Company, Smith
Melchior, Flagstad, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Bodansky
Larsen-Todsen, Graarud, Helm, Bockelmann, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Elmendorff
Melchior, Flagstad, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Leinsdorf
Brilioth, Nillson, Coro e Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della RAI, Mehta
Jerusalem, Meier, BPO, Barenboim
Gambill, Stemme, Glydebourne Chorus, LPO, Belohlávek (DVD/BluRay)
Smith, Theorin, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Schneider (DVD/BluRay)
Kollo, Meier, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Barenboim (DVD)
Jerusalem, Meier, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Barenboim (DVD)
Storey, Meier, La Scala Orchestra & Chorus, Barenboim (DVD)
Forbis, Charbonnet, SRO, Jordan (DVD)
Heppner, Eaglen, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Levine (DVD)
Kollo, Jones, Chor Und Orchester Der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Kout (DVD)
Decker, Derilova, Dessau Philharmonic, Berg (DVD)
Vickers, Nillson, ORTF, Böhm (DVD)
West, Meier, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Chorus of the Bayerische Staatsoper, Mehta (DVD)
Treleaven, Polaski, Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, de Billy

[DracoM]

Sublime and expert recital accompnaist, Mr Vignoles, but.........balance critic for T & I?? Hmm.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

DracoM, I admit I was a little surprised too. But hey, let's not assume he doesn't know his Wagner.

I have Solti, Furtwangler and Pappano, plus a DVD - must check which it is...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Phew! I've updated the list of recordings. I'm beginning to wish Andrew MacGregor would choose some very obscure works for BaL, with only two recordings to choose from.

[verismissimo]

On CD I have Furtwangler with Flagstad and Suthaus, and Bohm with Nilsson and Windgassen, plus Behlohlavek with Stemme and Gambill on DVD. The latter I don't much care for, musically or visually. Not a patch on the two great sound recordings.

Can't imagine I'll want to invest further, but who can tell?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I would say that the Furtwängler - surely one of the greatest recordings ever made - is the one to choose. The sound is very good, though only in mono and the performance is stunning.

[Mandryka]

For me, Karajan's 1972 studio recording is the only version that fields both good sound and an exceptional Tristan (though some people complain about the 'odd' balance favoured by Karajan around this time).

I think I'd probably go with Furtwangler as an interpretation of the score; and I'd go for Bohm for visceral thrills.

Carlos Kleiber offers an interesting idiosyncratic view, which convinces me, even if it doesn't convince everyone.

The only Tristan I would urge people to avoid is Leonard Bernstein's:this was not one of his successful experiments.

[Petrushka]

Fine as the Bohm/1966 Bayreuth set is it was actually cobbled together from sessions given before an audience. At one time there was a live recording of a single performance on the Frequenz label which was electrifying and superior to the commercially issued recording. I have both and won't need to look any further.

I also have Solti in his 1971 Covent Garden farewell on July 3 courtesy of Opera Depot. Unforgettable.

[agingjb]

Since the only Tristan I have is the Hoffman, Behrens, Bernstein - on cassette - I shall be looking with some interest at the recommendations of this program (and the comments here).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Wasn't the Bernstein version the one that was originally spread out over five (5) CDs and at full price?

[Mandryka]

Wasn't the Bernstein version the one that was originally spread out over five (5) CDs and at full price?

Yes.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I should add that the EMI/Pappano recording is issued on 3 CDs in good stereo sound, with a bonus DVD Video with the whole work with libretto in 5-1 Dolby Digital (which sounds fairly dreadful, in my opinion, with aggressive placing of the voices). But others may be happy with it, and it's churlish to condemn something that is apparently a bonus at no extra cost!

[Mandryka]

I should add that the EMI/Pappano recording is issued on 3 CDs in good stereo sound, with a bonus DVD Video with the whole work with libretto in 5-1 Dolby Digital (which sounds fairly dreadful, in my opinion, with aggressive placing of the voices). But others may be happy with it, and it's churlish to condemn something that is apparently a bonus at no extra cost!

I've only listened to the DVD once and wasn't struck by anything odd about the balance.....but, must admit, it was rather a plus to have the whole opera unfold before me without having to get up and change discs.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've only listened to the DVD once and wasn't struck by anything odd about the balance.....

If you listen to it again, consider whether the voices are not a little strident and "artificial". I find the CD stereo balance much better.

[Richard Tarleton]

Sublime and expert recital accompnaist, Mr Vignoles, but.........balance critic for T & I?? Hmm.

Impeccable credentials as it turned out - RV an inspired choice for Tristan. I thought this was BAL at its best, where the presenter really gets inside the work and the various performances, as opposed to merely telling us which version they like - think also David Owen Norris, as opposed to, well, you know who you are, I won't repeat it.

I don't think I'll be adding another version to my collection (Furtwangler, Bohm - I'm afraid the Solti LPs went years ago) - but I found this a riveting and insightful hour.