Customer Reviews

Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde - Live: Munich 1950

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The set presents famous live recording of Tristan performance conducted by Knappertsbusch at Bayerischen Staatsoper in 1950. His conducting is involving and dynamic, has sense of drama and poetry.
Treptow is strong Tristan, Braun is excellent Isolda with singing at her top form.
Sound quality is acceptable, but muffle.
This performance also available at Orfeo label with considerable better sound quality (as using an official phonogram) but as much as about two times more expensive.
In favour of this set there is a bonus on the 3rd cd that consists of rare recordings of Frantz and Braun.

I first heard Treptow as Siegmund in Furtwangler's Walkure and fell in love with him. He is the most poignant, romantic and vulnerable Tristan I have ever heard. In comparison, I find that Vickers' Tristan sounds like an old irritable soldier. Combined with Knappertsbusch conducting, this rendition is a masterpiece well worth hearing even if you already have your favorite Tristan.

This is an utterly fantastic performance. Knappertsbusch is the star here. He conducts an amazingly passionate performance that will surprise people who think that Knappertsbusch always conducted slow monumental performances of Wagner. Treptow, who in my opinion, was a mediocre singer at best, gives the performance of his life. Excellent. Helena Braun at this point of her career was past her prime, but nevertheless is quite good. Frantz and Schoeffler are also very good. This performance should be in every Wagner lovers collection.