Tristan Und Isolde

Richard Wagner (Artist), Regina Resnik (Artist), Fritz Uhl (Artist), Georg Solti (conductor) (Artist), Birgit Nilsson (soprano) (Artist), Tom Krause (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 12, 1992)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000041XG
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,119 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #8 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Nilsson, Birgit

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Act I: Einleitung - VSO/Sir Georg Solti

2. Act I: Westwarts Schweift Der Blick - Waldemar Kmentt

3. Act I: Frisch Weht Der Wind - Waldemar Kmentt

4. Act I: Befehlen Liess Dem Eigenholde - Birgit Nilsson

5. Act I: Wie Lachend Sie Mir Lieder Singen - Birgit Nilsson

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Act I (Conclusion): Tristan!-Isolde! - Birgit Nilsson/Fritz Uhl

2. Act II: Einleitung - VSO/Sir Georg Solti

3. Act II: Horst Du Sie Noch? - Birgit Nilsson

4. Act II: Dem Freund Zulieb' - Birgit Nilsson

5. Act II: Isolde!-Tristan! - Fritz Uhl/Birgit Nilsson

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Act II (Conclusion): Unsre Liebe? Tristans Liebe? - Fritz Uhl

2. Act II (Conclusion): So Sturben Wir, Um Ungetrennt - Fritz Uhl

3. Act II (Conclusion): Der Ode Tag Zum Letztenmal! - Fritz Uhl

4. Act II (Conclusion): O Konig, Das Kann Ich Dir Nicht Sagen - Fritz Uhl

5. Act III: [Prld]-Kurwenal! He! - Peter Klein

See all 6 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Act III (Conclusion): Hei, Nun! Wie Du Kamst? - Tom Krause

2. Act III (Conclusion): Dunkt Dich Das? - Fritz Uhl

3. Act III (Conclusion): Noch Losch Das Licht Nicht Aus? - Fritz Uhl

4. Act III (Conclusion): Noch Ist Kein Schiff Zu Sehn - Tom Krause

5. Act III (Conclusion): Bist Du Nun Tot? - Tom Krause

See all 9 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Tristan and Isolde Of Them All, October 7, 2005

By 

Rudy Avila "Saint Seiya" (Lennox, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tristan Und Isolde (Audio CD)

Mirror Mirror On The Wall, who's the greatest Isolde of them all ? The answer would have to be Birgit Nilsson on this recording from Decca/London dating from 1960. There is another edition of this same reissued recording with a fire-lit torch on the cover, though it's this same exact recording. George Solti conducts with all the power of his prime and delivers a compelling score. Birgit Nilsson's voice is a blaze of glory, with beauty and above all grandeur in this role which she herself felt she could identify with as a Swedish/Nordic descendant. Tenor Fritz Uhrl is a lesser known tenor in this role as he is overshadowed by the more famous portrayal of Jon Vickers and Wolfgang Windgassen. Regina Resnik performs a noble and beautifully sung Bragane. Wagner's music for this opera sounds effectively mystical, passionate, erotic and spiritual. You are better off getting this recording than any other starring Birgit Nilsson for she is captured in her glorious prime in this recording. As Isolde, note how she is able to transition from a romanticized princess in love in the Love Duet, to a fiery and temperamental woman in her "Invective" Aria and to one of spiritual and climatic transformation in the Liebestod. The only complaint, and it is one that many have noted, is that Birgit Nilsson's voice is so impossibly huge and grand that she can't handle the pianissimi or softer passages that are part of Isolde's character. In this department, her predecessor Kirsten Flagstad who retired from the opera scene in 1951, surpassed her. In the recording with Flagstad which is now commercially available, she proves that she has both the power and softness in her voice. The softer notes should be caressed and not shouted in such appropriate arias as the celestial Liebestod finale. While Nilsson attempts, especially here, to sing with softer volume, she is a romantic storm that only quiets down in the last line "Lust" as the music reaches a diminuendo. Nevertheless, this is the Tristan and Isolde that put Birgit Nilsson on the map and a fine recording with supreme sound and electrifying music. The strength in this recording lies in the talents behind it. Uhrl is a fine, dramatic and yet elegant Tristan, while Regina Resnik is a womanly, equally noble and dramatic Bragane. This is a must have for fans of Birgit Nilsson. This far outshines the later 1966 edition with Karl Bohm in which she sang opposite Wolfgang Windgassen (who was notorious for the Bayreuth "bark" in his voice) and the latter 70's performances with Jon Vickers. By then Birgit Nilsson was only a shadow of her former self, and the opposite happened. In the Vickers/Nilsson performances her powerful high notes had decreased in volume and her softer passages were the strength. Oh, well no one is perfect.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Tristan und Isolde, October 2, 2007

By 

Jay Adeff - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tristan Und Isolde (Audio CD)

I bought this recording against everyone's recommendations; I already own the Bohm/Nilsson/Windgassen and the Karajan/Dernesch/Vickers recordings, and I learned the opera with the old Furtwangler/Flagstad/Suthaus LP. The Bohm is frustrating because of the marginal sound and the leather-lung Windgassen, whom I really cannot stomach. The Karajan is frustrating because Dernesch was such a ridiculous choice for Isolda (she later transitioned to mezzo-soprano roles). But this recording was a very pleasant surprise. As others have stated, Nilsson is perfection in the role and Solti does a beautiful job with the music. But everyone complains about Fritz Uhl as Tristan. Well I'm here to tell you that he's actually quite good. He has a very nice, almost lyrical, voice and I'll take him over leather-lung any day.

This is my favorite Tristan und Isolde. Great singing, great conducting, great recorded sound. Highly underrated!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Birgit Nilsson's Best, April 23, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Tristan Und Isolde (Audio CD)

No one has bothered to review this great recording so I am proud to be the first. Perhaps this studio recording, made in Vienna in 1960, under the baton of a young Georg Solti, is overshadowed by the more popular editions out there- another recording conducted by Solti made in the late 60's, Birgit Nilsson's powerful performances opposite the equally powerful Jon Vickers and of course the recording under Karl Bohm's direction. But this recording finds Nilsson at her best in 1960 voice, with freshness, vigor and enchantment. Fritz Uhl is only a serviceable Tristan, though he shinse in such moments as solo arias and his duet with Nilsson. The music is crisp, clear and masterful. Never before have I heard such a glorious interprettion of the "Liebestod" which Nilsson culminates in pianissimo that seems to sound like she'slowly fading away into death. Nilsson is the true star here, though it was a fine idea to cast Regina Resnik as Brangane. Though there are better editiosn- Jon Vickers/Nilsson being the best and the Bohm one with Windgassen and newer Isoldes have taken over- Eva Mei, Jane Eaglen and in the 80's Jessye Norman. This is a terrific tribute to the greatest Isolde of them all, the Swedish goddess that was Birgit Nilsson.