Wagner : Tristan Und Isolde

Kirsten Flagstad (Isolde), Ludwig Suthaus (Tristan), Blanche Thebom (Brangaene), Josef Greindl (Marke), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Kurwenal), Edgar Evans (Melot), Rudolf Schock (Hirt/Stimme eines jungen Seemanns), Rhoderick Davies (Steuermann) Chorus of the Royal Opera House & Philharmonia Orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwängler

The famous ‘Tristan chord’ that begins the work was claimed by some to be a new harmonic language. Wagner was ever the musical magpie, and his mature style culminated from a close study of the music of Beethoven, Weber, Marschner, Spohr, Bellini, Mendelssohn and Liszt. This is not to underestimate the remarkable achievement that is Tristan und Isolde, and when placing it in the pantheon of compositions that changed the musical landscape, it ranks alongside the Eroica Symphony, The Rite of Spring, and Pierrot Lunaire. Tristan und Isolde is a love story set to some of the most erotic and passionate music ever composed. This first recording made by EMI in 1952 for the new LP format and produced by the legendary Walter Legge was the first major recording to feature the young baritone, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Conducting, Furtwängler excelled himself. Although there have been fine recordings since, this recording has been the benchmark for them all, and arguably has not been surpassed.

‘Furtwängler’s firm control and masterly conception of the score and his unfailing response to the subtleties of Wagner’s writing are shown in page after page … I have already praised the choice of Ludwig Suthaus for Tristan … and Flagstad. It is moving beyond words to hear the great singer, with her art at the height of its maturity, as time bids her say farewell to Tristan.’ Gramophone