Customer Reviews

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

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This is a 1936 recording of a live performance conducted by Reiner and featuring Flagstad and Melchior. The sound quality is very good for such an old recording. The conducting is spectacular but the orchestra is not as clearly audible as I would like, given the state of the art of sound recording in that year. Flagstad is simply perfect -- a joy to listen to. Melchior is also outstanding. This is a truly wonderful recording made by a conductor and singers in their prime. It is one of the gems of my opera collection. Highly recommended.

The Reiner Tristan, which has gained a mythical status due toits unavaliability, proves itself to be justified in holding thattitle through this recording. Back in the late '30's, the famous Tommy Beecham sought to procure an international name to perform the piece in Covent Garden. In his quest to do so, he managed to get Reiner & Furtwangler in consecutive years. The Reiner Tristan, which is coupled with his Flying Dutchman performance which is also legendary, probably has the greatest cast of the Century. Not only is Melchior & Flagstad singing the lead roles, but Herbert Janssen & Emmanuel List also contribute to compile a lineup that could rival Reiner's San Francisco Walkure. The singing is out of this world; Flagstad has only sung better in the '41 Met performance with Leinsdorf, and Melchior is solid as a rock. However, the true star of this recording is, of course, Reiner. Never have I heard a Tristan that is so perfectly paced. Unlike Beecham, who makes too an eccentric recording with the same cast, Reiner does nothing excessively eccentric or banal. He conducts Tristan almost like a Mozartian piece with ridgid timing but with colourful phrasing & incredible precision that almost seems irreplaceable. There are very few conductors who can out-perform a cast like Melchior, list & Flagstad; Reiner, in this recording, proves himself to be more than worthy of joining that elite group.