13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bernstein is the star, September 29, 2003
This review is from: Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Audio CD)
Of the many Tristans available, this is probably the most passionate...and maybe the longest. Recorded one act at a time in three seperate semi-staged performances, it catches the performers in fresh voice, somewhat. Behrens was ill for Act 3 and her Liebestod had to be re-recorded as she choked her way through during the actual live performance. Not the dominating force that Flagstad and Nilsson were, she is a wonderful vocal actress though plagued with a phlegmatic middle, weaker lower register, yet amazingly brilliant high notes.
Peter Hoffman, though youthful in voice and terrific in looks, remains adequate. He was never really secure vocally and his effective singing career was very brief. Here he is not alone in showing what a fiendishly difficult role Tristan is. There are very few who can navigate the role without serious limitations, such as Melchior, Vinay, Vickers or Windgassen. Hoffman will be remembered more for his Parsifal and Lohengrin than this Mount Everest of the tenor repretoire.
The rest of the cast ranges from good to adequate...Sotin is boring, while Minton sings well with less than sumptuous tone, and Weikl is a serviceable Kurwenal.
The real star of this set is Bernstein who conducts the score as written, with the prelude done in true Langsam. Karl Böhm stopped in during the rehearsal for the Prelude and later sent Bernstein a note: "At last someone performs Tristan the way it was meant to be...the rest of us never dared to!"
While Karajan's studio set is sumptuous, albeit too pristine and recorded with two much engineering, and Böhm's is really too energetic, Bernstein may be too passionate. That isn't always a bad thing. The orchestra playing is simply divine, the Liebesnacht heavenly, Tristan's death devestating on a cosmic level, and the Liebestod exquisitely rapturous.
The 5 disc set which I own has a disastorous cut in Act 2 which destroys the mood while changing sides, but otherwise while not a desert island set, it is one that will surely transport the listener into another realm. Ideally it's best late at night with no interruptions, preferabaly with headphones.
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14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bernstein conducts Tristan like a God, September 22, 2003
This review is from: Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Audio CD)
This is the most beautiful and powerful account of this magnificent opera on record. Leonard Bernstein's way of conducting this opera is nothing like I have ever heard before. His performance of the prelude is so beautiful and wonderous. Karl Bohm, who witnessed one of the rehearsals of the prelude, said that it was played like nobody had ever dared to do it before. I agree with that it is very different from anything I have ever heard before. You can hear his stamp on every bar and every note. It is very slowly conducted but it never ever lags. I often think it is fast in it's slowness. I don't know if that makes any sense at all, but that is now I feel when I hear it. The tremendous energy when the two lovers meet in act 2 is an example.
Peter Hofmann and Hildegard Behrens are two singers that I normally don't like to listen to, but this recording is an exception. The two of them are so into their character and singing very securely and beautifully. Hofmann is a bit unsteady in the 3rd act's most intense moments, but so many tenors are also strained there. Behrens is absolutely wonderful as Isolde. I guess this recording was made before her vocal decline. She sings very beautifully making her narration scene a triumph. All the other solists too are very good.
But it is Leonard Bernstein's powerful conducting that dominates at all times. He makes everyone perform at their very best and the orchestra plays like the players are inspired by God.
The sound very good, with good orchestral detail even in the parts with low volume and never cracks in the parts with highest volume.
It is very highly recommended to anyone who love this most romantic of operas and great conducting.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Way up there!, November 12, 2004
This review is from: Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Audio CD)
I just finished listening to Lenny's Tristan and man it's sooo good! I finally understand it after listening to so many versions! He brings out the wieght, the fire, the drama, the detail, the beauty, the depth, the clarity and most of all...the passion!
The recorded sound is phenomenal and the singing is sumptuous with real meaning and realistic acting, sometimes I thought it was live!
Despite the despising reviewers that detest this recording because of length or this or that, I love how Lenny draws it out! Once you immerse yourself in it, it takes you to the hieghts. It's a real experience, not just another Tristan. Take my word for it!
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