Wagner: Tristan und Isolde [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This much awaited recording of Tristan was worth waiting for. The draw was, of course, Placido Domingo, who now in his mid 60s will never sing the role of Tristan on stage, but whose legions of fans have been certain that he'd make a remarkable go at it. He is indeed excellent, singing with beautiful tone and legato (Wagner insisted that the Italian art of singing be used for his operas as well) and clear if not impeccable diction. Except for some moments, such as midway through the first-act interview with Isolde and the Love Duet, where his attention seems to flag, Domingo shows great attention and sensitivity to Tristan's plight. There's the odd moment of strain, but they're so rare that a tenor half his age would be proud of such a vocal display. Two grand performances come from soprano Nina Stemme and conductor Antonio Pappano. Stemme is radiant as Isolde, with a big, clear, appealing sound that is never forced. Her identification with the character is not yet on a level with Flagstad's, Modl's, or Nilsson's; she lacks the worldly resentment to Tristan and she can't express sarcasm, but there's great urgency to her singing and it's refreshing to hear such a young, secure voice. Antonio Pappano leads the opera quickly (only too quickly once or twice), with little obsessive subtext, and he totally understands how to pace a scene for its dramatic tension. René Pape is a fine, youthful-sounding King Marke; Olaf Bär's Kurwenal is somewhat forced; Mihoko Fujimara is a light but effective Brangaene. And with such stars as Ian Bostridge and Rolando Villazon as the Shepherd and Seaman, the set is truly luxurious. Perhaps this Tristan isn't a first choice (remember Furtwängler and Böhm!), but it will be for Domingo fans, and it's excellent on may other levels as well. --Robert Levine

Tracks:

Les Peurs des perles Act 1 - Au fond du temple saint
Madama Butterfly Act 1- Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino
Le Nozze di Figaro Act III - Sull'aria - Le Nozze di Figaro
La Traviata Act I - Un di, felice, eterea
Lucia Di Lammermoor Act I - Ah! Verranna a te sull'aure
Tristan und Isolde Act II - O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe
Carmen Act I - Parle-moi de m
Die ZauberflAct I - Bei Mern, welche Liebe F
Lakmct I - Viens, Mallika
Rigoletto Act I - il sol dell'anima
Der Rosenkavalier Act II - Mir ist die Ehre wilderfahren
Don Giovanni Act I - Li darem la mano
La Boh Act IV - O Mimi, tu pi torni
Il Trovatore Act IV - Miserere...Quel suon, quelle preci

Amazon.com

This is a misnomer--not all of these duets are all that famous--but it's a fine compilation nonetheless. You'll hear selections from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers (Nicolai Gedda and Ernest Blanc at their most elegant French), Madama Butterfly (Carlo Bergonzi and Renata Scotto--an impassioned pair), Lucia di Lammermoor (a classy Alfredo Kraus and Edita Gruberova), the lovely Lakme duet, The Presentation of the Silver Rose from Der Rosenkavalier (with the earnest Christa Ludwig and the other-worldly Teresa Stich-Randall), and a fine Trovatore "Miserere" (with Leontyne Price and Franco Bonisolli singing up a storm). There are many others, too--a veritable cornucopia of couplings--and a treat for the opera lover. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Can't go wrong.......2007-07-14

This is a really great CD for the price. It has many of the famous Arias on it and although the singers may not be the best out there they are certainly very good. This is cheaper than the price of a take away lunch; you can't go wrong with this CD.

Most Famous???.......2007-05-14

The title of this cd is misleading and I found myself wondering whose list did they use. That is not to say that there aren't some real treasures included here. The duet from Lakme is lovely in every way, Mady Mesple in particular, very beautful and very french, and far superior to Sutherlands hooty approach. Scotto and Bergonzi are superb, the Tristan and Isolde of Vickers and Dernesch truly other worldly, and the presentation of the rose duet with the young Ludwig and the astonishing Teresa Stich- Randell had me playing it over and over and I still can't believe it, but the most famous??? This cd is definitly worth buying, and I hated giving it only 3 stars but if you're talking most famous you could fill a couple of cd's with Puccini, not to mention Verdi, Mozart, etc. before Bizet's Les Pecheurs des perles, beautiful as it is, made the most famous list.

Only one song knew well.......2007-05-14

I should have done more research. The last song is the only one I could easily recognize. Live and learn.

The Most Famous Opera Duets.......2007-01-05

This seller truly makes a purchaser confident in the product as well the time in which is promised.

Thanks again!!!!!

Good selection of opera highlights.......2006-11-04

Super performances by famous opera artists of the 20th century, most of them no longer performing and some of them deceased. I enjoy having their voices available at home.

Average customer rating:

masters of classical music
A good basic collection
An excellent introduction to classical music
Very Beautiful!!!!!1
Still Stuck on Beethoven

Masters of Classical Music (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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25 Classical Favorites
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The Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music, Vol. 6-10
Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits
Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music

ASIN: B000001VU5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Piano Concerto In A Major, K 488: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Flute Concerto In D Major, K 314: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Symphony No. 40 in G minor: Molto allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Clarinet Concerto KV 622: Adagio - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Serenade, K 375: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Turkish March - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Violin Concerto, K 216: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Divertimento, K 334: Menuetto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Horn Concerto, K 447: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Cassation, K 99: Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Tracks:

Overture No. 4 In Major: Rejouissance - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 3 In D Major: Air - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: I. Allegro - J.S.Bach
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 2 In B Minor: Menuet & Badinerie - J.S.Bach
Prelude In C Major - J.S.Bach
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor - J.S.Bach
Prelude In C Minor - J.S.Bach
Overture No. 1 In C Major: Passepied - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F Major: II. Adagio - J.S.Bach
Kommst du nun, Jesu vom Himmel herunter, Chorale - J.S.Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: II. Allegro - J.S.Bach
Violin Concerto In E Major: I. Adagio - J.S.Bach
St. Matthew Passion: Finale Chorus: 'Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder' - J.S.Bach

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5: Allegro con brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Fur Elise - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Violin Romance No. 2 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio sostenuto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Minuet - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 8 In F Major: Allegretto scherzando - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Coriolan: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: Allegro - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Egmont: Overture - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Die Fledermaus: Die Fledermaus (Excerpts) - Johann Strauss
Wine, Woman And Song - Johann Strauss
Tritsch Tratsch Polka - Johann Strauss
The Blue Danube - Johann Strauss
The Gypsy Baron: Introduction - Johann Strauss
Annen Polka - Johann Strauss
Vienna Blood - Johann Strauss
The Gypsy Baron: Einzugsmarsch - Johann Strauss

Tracks:

Tannhauser: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Dance Of The Prentices - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude Act 3 - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Aufzug der Meistersinger - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Der fliegende Hollander: Overture - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Lohengrin: Prelude - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Tristan und Isolde: Prelude And Liebestod - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Tannhauser: Arrival Of The Guests At Wartburg - MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1: Allegro non troppo - Peter Tchaikovsky
String Serenade: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto: Andante - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Introduction - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Pas d'action - Adagio - Peter Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Capriccio italien Op. 45 - Peter Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Scene No. 10 - Peter Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake: Ballet Suite: Waltz - Peter Tchaikovsky
Eugene Onegin: Polonaise - Peter Tchaikovsky

Tracks:

The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 1 In E Major: Spring - VIVALDI, Antonio
Siciliano - VIVALDI, Antonio
Concerto In D Minor:: (Allegro Assai) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: Summer - VIVALDI, Antonio
Oboe Sonata In B Flat Major, RV 34: Adagio - Allegro - Largo - Allegro - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 3 In F Major: Autumn - VIVALDI, Antonio
Oboe Concerto: Allegro non tasto - Largo - Allegro non molto - VIVALDI, Antonio
Concerto In D Minor: (Largo e spiccato) Cologne Concerto - VIVALDI, Antonio
The 4 Seasons: Concerto No. 4 In F Minor: Winter - VIVALDI, Antonio

Tracks:

Scherzo No 1 In B Minor, Op. 20 - Frederic Chopin_
Three Nocturnes, Op. 9: No 3 In B Major - Frederic Chopin_
Twelve Etudes, Op. 10: No 5 In G Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
Twelve Etudes, Op. 25: No 10 In B Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 13 In F Sharp Major - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 14 In E Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 15 In D Flat Major 'Raindrops' - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 16 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 17 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 18 In F Minor - Frederic Chopin_
Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31 - Frederic Chopin_
Waltz In E Flat Major, Op. 18 - Frederic Chopin_
Nocturne In C Sharp Minor, Op. Posth. - Frederic Chopin_
Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 3 In A Flat Major - Frederic Chopin_
Four Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 4 In B Flat Minor - Frederic Chopin_

Tracks:

Ave Maria - Franz Schubert
Impromptu In E Flat Major - Franz Schubert
Standchen - Franz Schubert
Trout Quintet: Tema con variazioni - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 1 - Franz Schubert
Moment Musical In A Flat Major - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Entr'acte No. 2 - Franz Schubert
Moment Musical No. 3 In F Minor - Franz Schubert
'Rosamunde': Ballet Music No.2 - Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished': Allegro moderato - Franz Schubert

Tracks:

Nabucco: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
Nabucco: Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate - Verdi, Giuseppe
Aida: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
II Trovatore: Verdi! le fosche notturne (Gypsies' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
II Trovatore: Or co' daddi, ma fra poco (Soldiers' Chorus) - Verdi, Giuseppe
Aroldo: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Prelude - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Noi siamo zingarelle - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata:: Libiamo ne' lieti calici - Verdi, Giuseppe
La Traviata: Di Madride noi siam mattadori - Verdi, Giuseppe
La forza del destino: Overture - Verdi, Giuseppe

Customer Reviews:

masters of classical music.......2007-03-26

A nice collection for the classical listener. Great variety of composers and the music quality of the cds are very good.

A good basic collection.......2006-11-10

With selections from numerous composers, it is an easy way to familiarize oneself with some of the most popular classical works and excerpts. A pleasant listen for the initiated too.

An excellent introduction to classical music.......2006-10-18

This is an excellent introduction to classical music. Well performed and presented.

Very Beautiful!!!!!1.......2006-10-05

If you are a fan of classical music then you better get this set. Not only is it very cheap, 10 Discs for about 2$ per disk. Now where are you gonna find a deal like this. I actually found mine chaper, $20.00 even and the music is outstanding. If you had a very bad day and very stressed out, just put in one of these cds, lay down, dim down the lights and just relax. It really helped me out.

Still Stuck on Beethoven.......2006-08-22

I just recently started listening to classical music so I'm certainly not one to compare or critique the quality of this set. However, I do have a few comments...

My interest started in this genre of music because I'm researching my ancestry in Prussia and this is the music of those times. Never mind my ancestors were poor peasants who probably never got the chance to hear such wonderful music... when listening to these CDs, I'm taken back in time... to a royal court in Europe... to another place in time. The music is inspiring, relaxing, invigorating.

I have yet to listen to all the CD's in the set. I'm stuck on Beethoven! Wasn't he AWESOME!?!

I think this set is a wonderful introduction to classical music!!!!!

Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection

Average customer rating:

Wonderful collection and price!
Awesome collection!
Helicopters? Marines?
A great addition to my music collection
Quintessential Wagner

Twilight of the Gods: The Essential Wagner Collection

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000009ON7
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

The Valkyries: Ride Of The Valkyries
Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Funeral March
Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III
The Flying Dutchman: Overture
The Flying Dutchman: Sailors' Chorus
The Rheingold: Journey Down To Nibelheim
The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg: Overture
Tannhauser: Overture
Tannhauser: Entry Of The Guests
Tannhauser: Tannhauser's Pilgrimage
Siegfried: Act III Orchestral Interlude
Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
Twilight Of The Gods: Finale
The Rheingold: Entry Of The Gods Into Valhalla

Tracks:

Lohengrin: Prelude To Act I
Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
Parsifal: Prelude to Act I
Parsifal: Good Friday Music
Parsifal: Transformation Scene
Tannhauser: Venusberg Music
Tannhauser: Pilgrims Chorus
The Mastersingers Of Nuremburg: Prelude To Act III
The Rheingold: Vision Of Valhalla (Scene II Introduction)
Siegfried Idyll
Siegfried: Brunnhildes Awakening
Tristan And Isolde: Prelude To Act III
Tristan And Isolde: Death Of Isolde

Amazon.com

If you like your Wagner served up in bleeding chunks or if you're simply in a hurry to hear the tunes, then this compilation is for you. The performances, drawn from the Polygram (mainly Deutsche Grammophon) back catalog, are for the most part authoritative. They feature the likes of Herbert von Karajan, with the Berlin Philharmonic, and Karl Böhm, with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra (and chorus), in extracts from recordings of complete operas, and conductors Giuseppe Sinopoli, Otto Gerdes, and Antal Doráti in some of the more familiar overtures and preludes. Singing, without which it is impossible to get the full flavor of Wagner's work, is skirted whenever possible: this is an unapologetic tribute to Wagner the orchestral genius. At times the salesmanship is a little overblown--the glitzy packaging includes a cover shot of the helicopters from Apocalypse Now--and the sound, some of it from very good originals, seems to have been juiced with a little added digital reverb, resulting in an overall glassiness. The gaps between tracks are minimized, disco style, so there's no dead air, and the whole thing has an Entertainment Tonight feel to it. Were he around, Wagner would have screamed bloody murder, then happily taken his cut of the action. For today's on-the-go listener, this may well be the most practical way to enjoy Wagner's music, but we won't be happy until it motivates at least one newcomer to seek out a recording of a complete opera. Anyone who does that will find out what "apocalypse" really means. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful collection and price!.......2007-05-11

I found this to be a nice collection of favorites, especially to keep in the car and listen to. It is a variety of well known compilations. Although not encompassing, it is perfect as a review for driving, relaxing, and enjoyment. Plus, the price is right!

Awesome collection!.......2007-01-10

This is a great collection of some of Wagner's most memorable songs for those of you who do not want to buy the whole opera's for some of his works.

Helicopters? Marines?.......2006-12-05

Do those infotainment marketing mavens ever get it right? Talk about Hollywood disconnect! Not only are the helicopters irrelevant, but to quote from the gushy drivel on the jacket, "The gripping power of Richard Wagner's music was demonstrated with spectacular effect in...Apocalpse Now, when the "Ride of the Valkyries' became synonymous with the chilling journey of Marine 'Huey' helicopters into battle..."

Marine? Marine? Them Hueys in the movie was ARMY Air Cav, slick! "First of the ninth--air mobile." If you're going to dally down that primrose path, at least get it right.

Better yet, drop the choppers. Most people who listen to Wagner probably realize that quality of an artistic work has a mystically inverse relationship to the number of helicopters contained in it.

As for the music, it is good, but the operatic equivalent of sound bites, which may be just right for people who are new to Wagner or just can't take very much of him. Hmm...perfect for a helicopter ride, perhaps?

A great addition to my music collection.......2006-07-20

This CD takes the place of all my other Wagner music. VERY well done. Somehow I didn't realize that there were two cds in the package--what a pleasant surprise! Of the two cds, I like the first one best, but they are both good. I listen to this cd daily on my way to work. Stirring! I am so glad that I purchased this. Some purists might have a problem with the fact that some of the selections are not there in their entirety. I have no problem with that though. I recommend this to anyone who loves Wagner.

Quintessential Wagner.......2006-05-15

Okay, so I like Wagner. I LOVE "Ride Of The Valkyries". Do I want to go out and buy every single stinkin thing Wagner did? No. If you are a die-hard Wagner fan you probably will not think much of this collection.

But if you like Wagner and appreciate "Ride Of The Valkyries", and maybe require it in just a little more substance than what is included in "Apocolypse Now Redux", then this is what you want. The extra tracks are bonuses and are quite good. Meets my needs, presentation great, performance excellent. I recommend it for anyone that needs a Wagner fix.

Average customer rating:

Hey this set was $60 for almost 20 years!
The BEST Tristan to date. Furtwangler's magic!
I don't have 10 stars!
A Great Reading... A Great Recording!
Twilight of the god and goddess

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005NW0D
Release Date: 2001-09-11

Tracks:

Act I: Prld - Wilhelm Furtwangler
Act I, Scene 1: Westwarts Schweift Der Blick
Act I, Scene 1: Brangane, Du? Sag - Wo Sind Wir?
Act I, Scene 1: O Weh! Ach! Ach, Des Ubels, Das Ich Geahnt!
Act I, Scene 2: Frisch Weht Der Wind Der Heimat Zu - Rudolf Schock
Act I, Scene 2: Mir Erkoren, Mir Verloren
Act I, Scene 2: Hab Acht, Tristan! Botschaft Von Isolde - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act I, Scene 2: Darf Ich Die Antwort Sagen? - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act I, Scene 3: Weh, Ach Wehe! Dies Zu Dulden!
Act I, Scene 3: Wie Lachend Sie Mir Lieder Singen
Act I, Scene 3: Von Seinem Lager Blickt' Er Her
Act I, Scene 3: O Wunder! Wo Hatt' Ich Die Augen?
Act I, Scene 3: Da Friede, Suhn' Und Freundschaft
Act I, Scene 3: O Susse, Traute! Teure! Holde! Goldne Herrin! - Blanche Thebom
Act I, Scene 3: Ungeminnt Den Hehrsten Mann
Act I, Scene 3: Kennst Du Der Mutter Kusnte Night?
Act I, Scene 4: Auf! Auf! Ihr Frauen! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act I, Scene 4: Herrn Tristan Bringe Meinen Gruss
Act I, Scene 4: Nun Leb Wohl, Brangane!
Act I, Scene 5: Langsam - Wilhelm Furtwangler
Act I, Scene 5: Begehrt, Herrin, Was Ihr Wunscht
Act I, Scene 5: Da Du So Sittsam, Mein Herr Tristan
Act I, Scene 5: Nun Will Ich Des Eides Walten

Tracks:

Act I, Scene 5: War Morold Dir So Wert
Act I, Scene 5: Ho! He! Ha! Am Obermast Die Segel Ein!
Act I, Scene 5: Du Horst Den Rut?
Act I, Scene 5: Auf Das Tau! Anker Los!
Act I, Scene 5: Tristan!...Isolde!
Act I, Scene 5: Was Traumte Mir Von Tristans Ehre?
Act I, Scene 5: Schnell, Den Mantel, Den Konigsschmuck!
Act II: Prld - Wilhelm Furtwangler
Act II, Scene 1: Horst Du Sie Noch?
Act II, Scene 1: Der Deiner Harrt - O Hor Mein Warren!
Act II, Scene 1: O Lass Die Warnende Zunde
Act II, Scene 1: Und Musste Der Minne Tuckischer Trank
Act II, Scene 2: Isolde! Geliebte!...Tristan! Geliebter!
Act II, Scene 2: Das Licht! Das Licht!
Act II, Scene 2: Der Tag! Der Tag!
Act II, Scene 2: O Eitler Tagesknecht!
Act II, Scene 2: In Deiner Hand Dne Sussen Tod
Act II, Scene 2: O Nun Maren Wir Nacht-Geweihte! - Ludwig Suthaus
Act II, Scene 2: O Sink Hernieder, Nacht Der Liebe
Act II, Scene 2: Einsam, Wachend In Der Nacht - Blanche Thebom
Act II, Scene 2: Lausch, Geliebter!
Act II, Scene 2: Unsre Liebe? Tristans Liebe? - Ludwig Suthaus

Tracks:

Act II, Scene 2: Doch Unsre Liebe
Act II, Scene 2: So Sturben Wir, Un Ungetrennt
Act II, Scene 2: Habet Acht! Habet Acht!
Act II, Scene 2: O Ew'ge Nacht, Susse nacht!
Act II, Scene 3: Rette Dich, Tristan! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act II, Scene 3: Tatest Du's Wirklich? - Josef Greindl
Act II, Scene 3: Wozu Die Dienste Ohne Zahl - Josef Greindl
Act II, Scene 3: Dies Wunderhehre Weib - Josef Greindl
Act II, Scene 3: Nun, Da Durch Solchen Besitz Mein Herz - Josef Greindl
Act II, Scene 3: O Konig, Das Kann Ich dir Nicht Sagen - Ludwig Suthaus
Act II, Scene 3: Wohin Nun Tristan Scheidet, Willst Du, Isold', Ihm Folgen? - Ludwig Suthaus
Act II, Scene 3: Als Fur Ein Fremdes Land - Kirstan Flagstad
Act II, Scene 3: Verrater! Ha! Zur Rache, Konig! - Ludwig Suthaus
Act III: Prld - Wilhelm Furtwangler
Act III, Scene 1: Shepherd's Pipe Song - Wilhelm Furtwangler
Act III, Scene 1: Kurwenal! He! Sag, Kurwenal! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act III, Scene 1: Od' Und Leer Das Meer!.../Shepherd's Pipe Song/Die Alte Weise - Wilhelm Furtwangler
Act III, Scene 1: Wo Du Bist? In Frieden, Sicher Und Frei! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act III, Scene 1: Dunkt Dich Das? Ich Weiss Es Anders - Ludwig Suthaus
Act III, Scene 1: Isolde Noch Im Reich Der Sonne - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Tracks:

Act III, Scene 1: Noch Iosch Das Licht Nicht Aus - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act III, Scene 1: Mein Kurwenal, Du Trauter Freund! - Ludwig Suthaus
Act III, Scene 1: Shepherd's Pipe Song/Noch Ist Kein Schiff Zu Sehn! - Wilhelm Furtwangler
Act III, Scene 1: Nein! Ach Nein! So Heisst Sie Nicht! - Ludwig Suthaus
Act III, Scene 1: Der Trank! Der Trank! Der Furchtbare Trank! - Ludwig Suthaus
Act III, Scene 1: Mein Herre! Tristan! Schrecklicher Zauber! - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act III, Scene 1: Das Schiff? Siehst Du's Noch Nicht? - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act III, Scene 1: Wie Sie Selig, Hehr Und Milde - Ludwig Suthaus
Act III, Scene 1: Shepherd's Pipe Song/O Wonne! Freude! Ha! Das Schiff! - Wilhelm Furtwangler
Act III, Scene 2: O Diese Sonne! Ha, Diesser Tag!
Act III, Scene 2: Ich Bin's, Ich Bin's Sussester Freund!
Act III, Scene 2: Die Wunde? Wo? Lass Sie Mich Heilen!
Act III, Scene 3: Kurwenal! Hor! Ein Zweites Schiff - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Act III, Scene 3: Tot Denn Alles! Alles Tot! - Josef Greindl
Act III, Scene 3: Sie Wacht! Sie Lebt! Isolde! - Josef Greindl
Act III, Scene 3: Mild Und Leise Wir Er Lachelt
Act III, Scene 3: Heller Schallend, Mich Umwallend

Amazon.com essential recording

It's not surprising that this sublime performance of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde has remained on the market for so long: Wilhelm Furtwängler's reading of the tale with Ludwig Suthaus, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, and Kirsten Flagstad is probably definitive. The conductor is peerless at achieving a strong sense of direction throughout the epic length. Carlos Kleiber's controversial version with the Dresden State Orchestra might boast orchestral fireworks (abetted by modern recording technology), but if you're looking for a Tristan in which the singing takes center stage, this is the recording to buy. Newly remastered with Abbey Road Technology as part of EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series. --Joshua Cody

Customer Reviews:

Hey this set was $60 for almost 20 years!.......2007-06-04

I listened to it at the library in the 80s, but you couldn't turn it up very loud. I'll bet this issue will suppress sales of all other performances!

The BEST Tristan to date. Furtwangler's magic!.......2007-02-05

This is the best version of Tristan I have EVER heard. The sound quality is good but the performances are just thrilling. The duets are stunning. If you buy one Tristan make it this one. For those of us who do not speak German read up on the plot first and then enjoy. Fantastic.

I don't have 10 stars!.......2007-01-20

The maximum! The very best version of all times

A Great Reading... A Great Recording!.......2006-11-22

It's hard to imagine that anything can be better. So don't try. This is the best-recorded version of this amazing opera I have ever heard. A truly unmatched achievement in sound direction and vocal virtuosity.
"Classic" or "Legendary" recordings turn off some people due to the fact that they never know what kind of sound quality they will receive. Let me tell you as an audiophile, conductor, composer, musician and long time music listener: This is not what you think! It is a wonderfully clear, bold and warm recording with great dynamic influx and solid resonance that will fill any room on a good set of speakers. There is no better way to enjoy this great masterpiece! Bravo EMI! Bravo Furtwangler! This is without a doubt one of the 20th century's greatest sound recordings!

Twilight of the god and goddess.......2006-06-29

Certainly one of the greatest opera recordings ever, if not the greatest. It hardly matters that this Tristan and Isolde was recorded circa 1950; this true classic, remastered, its glory intact, is a musical marvel for the ages that is nearly outside of time in its magnificence. Conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler (my all-time favorite conductor name--so Germanic!), was at the height of his conducting powers here, just as the great, legendary soprano Kirsten Flagstad, who also soars. Does she ever! Flagstad is known of course for her 1930s Metropolitan Opera Wagner performances, as well as appearances at Covent Garden in the late 1940s. Isolde was perhaps her greatest role. Usually she was paired with Lauritz Melchior (reportedly replaced at the last minute here by the sublime Ludwig Suthaus as Tristan due to Melchior's illness). Flagstad gave us her greatest Isolde at the twilight of her career. The entire cast and recording crew deserve great praise. Furtwangler delivers no less than the penultimate Tristan and Isolde. Aged and ill he may have been in faltering physical health, but his spirit was obviously never more vibrant. Together he and Flastad created a musical treasure that will live on forever. Five stars? More like a thousand!

Strauss: Four Last Songs; Wagner" Excerpts from Tristan und Isolde & Götterdämmerung

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Strauss: Four Last Songs; Wagner" Excerpts from Tristan und Isolde & Götterdämmerung

Manufacturer: Testament UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000O59Z0C
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

I. Beim Schlafengehen
II. September
III. Fruhling
IV. Im Abendrot
Prelude
Mild Und Leise Wie Er Lachelt
Dawn And Siegfried's Rhine Journey
Starke Scheite Schichtet Mir Dort

Average customer rating:

A well-kept secret
Essential Wagner
Excellent Wagner from a surprising source ... or maybe not!
Go For Boult
Memorable and dramatic- A must have for Wagner fans

Wagner: Overtures & Preludes

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture
Wagner: The "Ring" Without Words

ASIN: B000002S08
Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

Tannher: Overture
Tannher: Grand March
Der Fliegende Holler: Overture
Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 1
Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 3
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Overture
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act 3
Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 1

Tracks:

Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 3
Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1
Parsifal: Act 1 Transformation scene
Parsifal: Prelude to Act 3
Parsifal: Good Friday Music
Das Rheingold: Entrance of the Gods
Die Walkure: Ride of the Walkyries
Siegfried: Forest murmurs
Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Rhine Journey
Gotterdammerung: Siegfried's Funeral March

Customer Reviews:

A well-kept secret.......2007-05-18

Everyone wants to have a crack at the "bleeding chunks" eventually, and while I love the flashier Stoky and Furtwangler approach, I wouldn't want to be without the Boult. He's a great Wagnerian, strange as it may seem. Who could blame him for not wanting to go down in history merely as the finest Holstian? As long as this stays in print, Ormandy will still be considered the least sexy conductor. (I heard CBS researchers found an Ormandy fan once!)

Essential Wagner.......2006-06-17

As a child, this set was my first experience of Wagner's music, and it made quite an impression on me. However, as I grew older and began to collect the full operas I felt I could surely do better than Adrian Boult and the British for a collection of the preludes, overtures, and orchestral music from the operas. I was wrong. I have yet to here any recordings that can match the power and intensity as demonstrated in these discs from Boult and the LSO (and LPO). The Meistersinger prelude alone is worth the price, and the only version of the prelude to Tristan which outdoes the one here is Bohm's live 1966 Tristan. The Solti, Karajan, and Klemperer highlight discs have their moments (and truthfully, I do prefer Solti and Karajan for the "Ring" highlights), but their contributions are greatest in the full operas, and overall, they simply can't muster the power and intensity that Boult brings to these preludes, overtures, etc.

Even if you have other compilations of Wagner's music in "bleeding chunks", I can assure you they don't come close to this one; and with two discs (the second containing mostly music from Parsifal and the "Ring") at 14 bucks, there is absolutely no excuse not to have this essential recording. So go ahead and buy this disc, never buy another Wagner compilation again, and with the money you save get started on the more important task at hand: the full operas.

Excellent Wagner from a surprising source ... or maybe not!.......2004-09-27

Does Sir Adrian Boult conjure up of images of Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughn Williams, but not Wagner? You're not alone! Nevertheless, this is a double CD set not to be missed! Many years ago, I was listening to a classical radio music station in NYC that was playing the music of Wagner. The performance was so good, that I wouldn't leave the radio until I found out the name of the conductor. When the announcer said the conductor was Sir Adrian Boult, I was quite surprised. I had recordings of English music from Sir Adrian on Angel/EMI, but I never associated that conductor with Wagner. Having been blessed with a friend who had knowledge of classical music way beyond his years, I gave him a call to find out more about the recording. He told me that, Boult had solid expertise in the area of Germanic music, but, in England, had been overshadowed in that repertoire by Otto Klemperer. He told me not to be surprised about Boult's very fine Wagner, it was an excellent recording to purchase and, indeed, search out Sir Adrian's wonderful performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (now available on Vanguard). Fast-forward many years and I find myself browsing through Amazon for a recording of Wagner's Overtures and Preludes. Like everyone else I know, I foolishly jettisoned my LPs in the 1990s and have been "back-filling" ever since. Well, I was able to obtain this splendid set for less than $7 per CD! There are a total of 18 selections covering most of Wagner's operas including five excerpts from the Ring Cycle. The performances are excellent coming from no less than three British orchestras, and the sound is top-shelf EMI. Sir Adrian's pacing is measured and his vision is broad and sensitive, highlighting the beauty and grandeur --rather than just the fire-- of this glorious music. I heartily recommend this two-CD set, and at this price, I think it's a steal.

Go For Boult.......2003-07-08

Sir Adrian Boult is best known for his recordings of the British repertoire, and his performances, particularly of Holst's "The Planets" and Elgar's Symphonies and Orchestral Works, are legendary. But Boult was also an excellent conductor of Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner, and this 2-CD set collects the Overtures and Preludes of the latter German titan. These stereo recordings from the early to mid-1970s with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, and London Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras are truly first rate. EMI's set compares nicely in terms of price, quality and musical offerings with competing sets by DG (Bohm, Kubelik, et al) and Sony (Ormandy & Szell). You might have reservations about getting German music conducted by a Brit, but you really can't go wrong with Boult.

Memorable and dramatic- A must have for Wagner fans.......2000-03-20

I bought this cd for the following reasons: 1 I'm a Wagner fan, 2 the cover looks exquisite and 3 I wanted to hear a "prelude" since it sounds fancy and never heard one. The result is great cd. The Tannhauser overture, Tristan and Isolde prelude and Lohengrin Prelude to act 3 are all very excellent. Excerpts from the Ring of the Nibelunge aren't as good as I had anticipated but are still enjoyable. The music speaks the tales of Wagner's operas. Just hear it, as slow and irksome as they maybe, these preludes make you feel the tragic love of Tristan and Isolde, the epic odyssey of Lohengrin and the holy, heavenly spirit in Parsifal as he discovers the Holy Grail. Buy this CD and you won't regret it. Except that one bit from Gotterdammerung, Siegfried's Funeral March. It does'nt quite have the feel of grand disaster as it did in John Boorman's film Excalibur. If you're hoping to find that version(which is better) stick with the Classics Go To The Movies Vol 2 cd. But all the other pieces on this CD are excellent. Go and buy this CD- now !

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser

Average customer rating:

Highest Recommendation Possible
Great Music At Any Price!

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser

Manufacturer: Seraphim
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 8, 9, 10, 13 & 14

ASIN: B000000UW7
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Tristan Und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod
Parsifal: Prelude to Act I
Parsifal: Good Friday Music
Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg: Prelude to Act III
Lohengrin: Prelude to Act I
Tannhauser: Overture

Customer Reviews:

Highest Recommendation Possible.......2007-02-04

I have been ravenously studying classical music for about the last two years non stop. It has been a fantastic voyage. Out of everything by everyone, to me, this is among the very best CDs. The music is beautiful, mighty and majestic. On top of that, the CD is very inexpensive, considering it's quality.

Great Music At Any Price!.......2004-03-14

The original EMI Seraphim budget CD line has to be the greatest value for the money in the history of music. For half the price of other so-called budget lines, including the new version of EMI Seraphim and the Sony Essential Classics series, you get first-rate performances from the golden age of stereo by some of the greatest conductors of the century. On this particular title you get brilliant Wagner performances by Rudolf Kempe and Sir Adrian Boult. This was my first disc of Wagner Orchestral Music, and I liked it so much that I eventually upgraded in order to get more terrific Wagner performances by Kempe and Boult (see my reviews). You see, Boult has a two-disc mid-priced set collecting his Wagner recordings on EMI, while Kempe has two full-priced discs on the Testament label, which licensed his EMI recordings. Granted, most will not want to pay as much as I did for their Wagner, and if you don't, just buy this title with the loose change in your pocket.

Average customer rating:

A masterpiece always to remember
The best in it's own way
The most Theatrical Tristan und Isolde...my personal favorite!
Alone in the top
Bayreuth at its best

Tristan Und Isolde

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sir Georg Solti
Mozart: Don Giovanni

ASIN: B000001GXS
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

Tristan und Isolde: Prelude
Tristan und Isolde: 'Westwarts schweift der Blick'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Frisch weht der Wind der Heimat zu'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Weh, ach wehe! Dies zu dulden'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Auf! Auf! Ihr Frauen! Frisch und Froh!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Herr Tristan trete nah!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Begehrt, Herrin, was Ihr wunscht'

Tracks:

Tristan und Isolde: Prelude
Tristan und Isolde: 'Horst du sie noch?'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Isolde! Geliebte! - Tristan! Geliebter!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Einsam wachend in der Nacht'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Lausch, Geliebter! - Lass mich sterben!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Doch unsre Liebe, heisst sie nicht Tristan und - Isolde?'
Tristan und Isolde: 'So starben wir, um ungetrennt'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Rette dich, Tristan!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Tatest du's wirklich? Wahnst du das?
Tristan und Isolde: 'O Konig, das kann ich dir nicht sagen'

Tracks:

Tristan und Isolde: Prelude - Mig Langsam
Tristan und Isolde: (Man hoert einen Hirtenreigen)
Tristan und Isolde: 'Kurwenal! He! Sag, Kurwenal!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Hei nun! Wie du kamst?'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Noch losch das Licht nicht aus'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Noch ist kein Schiff zu seh'n!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Bist du nun tot? Lebst du noch?'
Tristan und Isolde: 'O diese Sonne! Ha, dieser Tag!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Ha! Ich bin's, ich bin's, suessester Freund!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Kurwenal! Hoer! Ein zweites Schiff!'
Tristan und Isolde: 'Mild und leise wie er lachelt'

Amazon.com

Recorded in performance, but one act at a time so that the principals could sing full-out, this is one of the most electrifying opera recordings of the stereo era. Birgit Nilsson blazes as Isolde, and Wolfgang Windgassen's Act-III evocation of the delusional Tristan is heart-wrenching. Karl B"hm inspires transcendent playing from the Bayreuth forces, and the sound is stunning. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

A masterpiece always to remember.......2007-02-11

For all you Wagner haters out there; please listen to these five excerpts of this recording and you will be convinced otherwise:
1. Christa Ludwig's Brangane: Act II - "Einsam Wachend in der Nacht..."
2. Birgit Nillson's & Wolfgang Wingassen's Isolde & Tristan: Act II - "O sink hernieder..."
3. Wolfgang Windgassen's Tristan: Act III - " Dunkt dich dass, Ich weiss es anders..."
4. Eberhardt Wachters Kurwenal: Act III - "O wonne, nein, ..."
5. Birgit Nilsson's Isolde: Act III - "Mild und leise..."
Thanks

The best in it's own way.......2005-11-11

For me, the SECOND-most important aspect of Tristan und Isolde is the power, both from the orchestra and from the singers. In that respect, this is probably the very best recording out there of Tristan und Isolde. The singers are all powerful, both in sheer sound and in conveying strong emotions, and the conducting is extremely exciting. Birgit Nilsson is absolutely incredible: she just sings at the top of her lungs, and the sound of her voice remains gorgeous nonetheless! The power of her anger in Act I is, in my experience, unequalled elsewhere on opera recordings (though maybe some Callas recordings and perhaps some Del Monaco recordings would be candidates for Second Prize).
However, the MOST important aspect of Tristan und Isolde, in my opinion, is the harmonic language, which creates a very special atmosphere, an atmosphere that is spooky, exotic, very erotic but also somehow calm and calming.
This recording is not a TOTAL failure in that respect, but I would say there are MANY other recordings that bring out the above-mentioned atmosphere better than this one does.
Here, Bohm's conducting sometimes "runs over" those harmonic nuances, not to mention many dynamic nuances and little (momentary)tempo changes that are missed.
In addition, Windgassen's singing took a lot of getting used to, for me. He has power, but not beauty of voice. He has a powerful interpretation, but not really beautiful operatic phrasing (Fritz Uhl, the Tristan in Solti's set, has the opposite: a beautiful sound and beautiful bel-canto style phrasing, but not nearly enough power, vocally or emotionally).
To sum up: This is THE exciting Tristan, but for me, other recordings of this work bring out the real essence of the piece better. My favorite is Karajan's studio recording, followed by Solti's (the latter also features Birgit Nilsson, who is ALMOST as exciting there as she is here, but not quite).

The most Theatrical Tristan und Isolde...my personal favorite!.......2005-11-04

It is very hard to try to write a recommendation for a perfect recording of Tristan und Isolde, since each set has its own set of pros and cons. However, of all the Tristans I have listened to, Karl Böhm's recording made at 1966 in Bayreuth seems to be the one that I come back to the most. There was a time when I could not appreciate Böhm's conducting because I felt that he rushed through the lucid and erotic qualities of the score. When I listen to this now, with fresher ears and having listened to the majority of Tristan recordings on the market, I find that his conducting gives Tristan an electricity that cannot be found in other recordings. There is a passion and energy that you can find in Böhm's conducting that you cannot hear in Karajan's or Solti's interpretations, and this set definitely tops Berstein's and Kleiber's recording in many respects. The orchestra plays beautifully under his direction, just as they did in the Ring for Böhm exactly a year later. I would say that the conductor's reading of the score is full of energy, passion, eroticism, forward propulsion and movement, and pathos. The conductor's somewhat Mozartian/ classical treatment of the Romantic and chord-saturated score gives it a lift and an elegance without sacrificing the Wagnerian ethos that make it so special. I would say that this is the most masterfully conducted Tristan, and adding to that the special Bayreuth sound and you have one of the most orchestrally captivating experiences you'll ever hear.

However, the one factor that places this Tristan above all other recordings is the amazing cast assembled in this massive project. Birgit Nilsson, in my opinion, is the greatest Isolde...period. Her first act Isolde is a powerhouse of rage with the jealousy, love, revenge, sadness, resignation and all other of Isolde's character aspects that make her such a complex heroine. Her second act Isolde is meltingly tender, and she is able to scale down her voice to make the love duet sound like silk. Her third act Liebestod is an apotheosis of years of learning this role, and only Nilsson can sing it with the rapture and beauty that it deserves. I was wrong to find her too steely. Not many voices like hers come in our lifetime, and how lucky we are that she came during a time when voices can be captured in their greatest performances.

Below this towering standard is the Tristan of Wolfgang Windgassen. Although he does not have the beautiful timbre of Placido Domingo, the haunting voice of Vickers, or the reticent ease of Lauritz Melchior's voice, he offers drama and intensity that would never be matched by any tenor before or after him. His phrasing is exemplary, and his intelligence makes his Tristan one of the most compelling accounts on record. In fact, after Vickers, he is perhaps the most intense Tristan ever to have sung the part, albeit the fact that his voice is taken to its limits in the third act delirium. I don't know how I would live without his Tristan, as Birgit herself said that "Wolfie" saved her many a time when she got lost in the extremely exposed and difficult lead roles.

The supporting cast is perhaps the best on records. Christa Ludwig is the most beautiful and theatrical Brangäne, and Eberhard Wächter is a youthful, yet testosterone induced Kurwenal. You must hear Ludwig's calls from the tower...I think that alone is the price of this landmark recording. Their respective interaction with the leads is a must-hear--especially Ludwig's interactions with Nilsson in Act I. Martti Talvela sings the part of King Marke with a nobility and the kind of gravitas I've only heard again in Rene Pape, and he should be referred to as a reference for this short, yet pivotal role. The smaller parts in this opera are taken by Peter Schreier, Gerd Nienstedt, and Claude Heater--all of whom are great Bayreuth artists.

Of course, you must still hear other recordings of Tristan. I could recommend Karajan's 1952 Bayreuth account, or Kleiber's 1976 La Scala, or Pappano's studio recording with Domingo. You should also try Reiner's set with Flagstad and Melchior, but for the complete Tristan experience, this set is the one that you should return to if you want to hear a true Wagnerian epic taking place in your living room. Bravi tutti!

Alone in the top.......2005-10-06

OK fellows I don`t know Furtwangler celebrated recording. But having listened to this it is difficult not to accept this is THE ULTIMATE TRISTAN. Why? Look at the conducting. Like a storm. Not a weak moment. Truly propulsive. Look at how balanced is the orchestra. In the Liebestodt at the end Isolda`s high notes are matched with the glorious brass section instead of the usual "soup" sound of our usual orchestra. See how resonant brass are and then try the same passage with the same singer under Solti: it's like replacing chocolate for soup. For me Bayreuth sound is the real "period" sound for Wagner. And with the intensity we have here. So it must be very difficult to listen to slower recordings like Furtwangler, specially when the approach I just have described sounds to me so definitive. Sound is excellent.
About the cast: Brangane very vibratoed but good, also is Wachter. I don't like Marke's voice (the singer uses a voice that sounds "broken" sometimes, an awfull effect). Windgassen may not have a strong voice but sounds so human ... great. Then there is the other only reason to buy and keep this recording appart from Bohm: Nilsson. In what planet was she born? For she is really superhuman. Listen to her seductive voice and well, Callas was such a great artist, but in my humble opinion, standing next to Nilsson, in vocal matters Callas is SO WEAK ... If an extraterrestrial listened only to 1 single recording of human voice (speaking of this) would think Nilsson was the best singer in history. It would be very difficult to change its mind.

Bayreuth at its best.......2005-08-18

I was lucky enough to be present at the last outing of this Wieland Wagner production with essentially the same cast - the curtain calls went on for more than 45 minutes!

Undoubtedly, this is a totally exceptional performance - one of those live performances that catches fire from the first enigmatic rise and fall to the famous 'Tristan' chord and never lets you go until long after the last note of the Liebestod has died away. Bohm (often accused of being kapellmeisterish at the time) is electric - the music ebbs and flows with the passion of the protagonists, at times whipped up to almost hysterical proportions (Tristan's Act 2 arrival and the height of his dementia in Act 3 for example), at others achingly lonely (Marke's monologue or the shepherd's piping come to mind).

The singing, too, is unsurpassed. Nilsson and Windgassen are in superlative form throughout - Windgassen tired in Act 3? His character is dying, for God's sake - and he certainly rises to the excitements of Isolde's arrival and the ripping of the bandages from his wound. Christa Ludwig sings Brangane's warnings from the tower with a haunting rapture that matches that of the lovers downstage. The much-missed Martti Talvela sings his (presumably huge) socks off as Marke, turning a character who can be a bore into, for his moment, the most sympathetic and moving person in the opera.

I've never got it with Furtwangler and Flagstad by the time of that performance sounded too maternal for my taste. Bernstein is brave and at times fascinating but his cast aren't as good. Karajan is too overcooked and Vickers - often a great Tristan on stage - was too self-indulgent here. Kleiber (who I also heard, magnificently, at Bayreuth) conducts wonderfully and has a beautifully sung Isolde in Margaret Price, but his Tristan is the rather pedestrian Kollo.

For me, this Bohm recording is the yardstick Tristan and a great example of Bayreuth at its absolute best. The engineers capture the unique Bayreuth sound well, too.

Average customer rating:

An excellent classical CD
A hidden diamond
Wagner's Grandeur
Ormandy is underrated!
Excellent Recordings

The Best Of Wagner

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wagner: Tristan und Isolde/Parsifal/Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg/Lohengrin/Tannhäuser

ASIN: B000003F4J
Release Date: 1991-06-06

Tracks:

Die Meistersinger: Prelude
Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries
Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
Siegfried: Forest Murmurs
Gotterdammerung: Dawn & Siegfried's Rhine Journey
Die Walkure: Magic Fire Music
Tristan und Isolde: Liebestod

Customer Reviews:

An excellent classical CD.......2007-01-28

Richard Wagner rightly deserves his high reputation as a classical musician. Like many people, I don't care for Wagner's racial or religious views, but don't let that stop you from enjoying his music. The CD starts off with my favorites the Prelude from Die Meistersinger & Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walkure, followed by a fascinating rendition of the Bridal Chorus (a.k.a. "Here Comes the Bride") from Lohengrin. I won't recite the rest of the list, but there are 4 other compositions, all somewhat varied in style, but very good. Whether you are classical music buff or simply want an introduction to classical music this CD is a good place to start.

A hidden diamond.......2001-10-03

This unassuming budget classic reissue is among the finest of its genre: The Wagner orchestral highlight album, and features the contents of 1973 LP recital the farthest thing from run-of-the-mill, spaciously recorded with the palpable feeling of the presence of the musicians, not merely an amorphously gorgeous orchestral sonority. The music unfolds without self-indulgent pointing, in a free-wheeling manner that is simply right.

The original Ormandy program is supplemented with a track by Robert Shaw doing a luscious rendering of the famous Bridal Chorus from with his divine women's chorus, a version as good or better than any ever anthologized or appearing in complete opera recordings, its 1959 atmospherically recorded sound barely showing its age.

My only caveat is that this stuff really merited more respectful packaging than this ersatz "Best of" series, but at the price, who should complain?

Wagner's Grandeur.......2001-08-24

Wagner was a great composer. His music and use of orchestra are grand and masterful. I am repulsed by his political views, but as an artist he was a genius. This compilation of Wagner is probably the best there is. I listen to it from time to time. The breadth of the orchestral palette, the elevation, and grandeur have been imitated but never duplicated.

Ormandy is underrated!.......2001-02-08

I did a test by listening to Szell, Klemperer, Karajan, Kubelik, Bohm, Jochum, Gerdes, Ozawa, Stokowski, and Ormandy play Wagner overtures and excerpts from "The Ring". My verdict: it's Ormandy. What can I say? I feel as is he's underrated, especially in the annals of Wagner worship. I like Stokowski's energy, but he plays around with scores (horrors!) too much. The Szell was great, but a tad limp. Other conductors have their high points, but Ormandy ranks consistently at the top. His conducting is full and rich and the orchestra always sounds great. I ranked the Szell orchestral music from Wagner at 5 stars, so Ormandy rates 6 stars.

Excellent Recordings.......2000-11-08

The selections performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Ormandy are excellent. One of the best. Highly Recommended.

Liszt for Lovers: Piano Dreams of Love and Passion

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Music for a Romantic Evening
perfect dramatic piano
Arguably, one of the best classical pianists ever.

Liszt for Lovers: Piano Dreams of Love and Passion

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chopin and Champagne: Set Your Mood for Romance
Rachmaninoff for Romance: Passionate Music for Love and Desire
Debussy for Daydreaming: Music to Caress Your Innermost Thoughts
Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit
Vivaldi for Valentines: Romantic Interludes for the One You Love

ASIN: B0000041NL
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

Liebestraum (Dream Of Love)
Waldesrauschen (Forest Murmurs)
Un sospiro (A Sigh)
Liebesbotschaft (Message of Love)
Widmung (Dedication)
The Maiden's Wish
My Darling
Die Loreley
Au Bord D'Une Source
Harmonies Du Soir
Les Jeux D'Eaux A La Villa D'Este
Sonata In B Minor - Andante Sostenuto
Isolde's Liebestodt

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Music for a Romantic Evening.......2005-12-15

The CD insert design of the Set Your Life to Music series might suggest that this is a collection "Classical Lite." However, while this compilation provides some Liszt's most well-known music, these beautiful and deep pieces should not be mistaken for "easy listening." These are wonderful compositions by a great composer, performed by musicians of the highest caliber (especially Claudio Arrau). This is music to close your eyes to while listening to and enjoying every note and every nuance of the performances.

Most of the selections are performed by Claudio Arrau, one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century, an acknowledged master of the Liszt repertoire and, furthermore, a pupil of one of Liszt's pupils. Arrau plays these selections with power, passion, sensitivity, and highly nuanced delicacy, depending on what a given passage calls for, as he takes the listener through the rising and falling tides of passion in Liszt's music.

The "non-Arrau" selections recorded by Misha Dichter, Wibi Soerjadi, and Zoltan Kocsis are also excellent. All the recorded selections, whether digital or analog, have very clear sound quality. Highly recommended, whether as an introduction to Lizst or to add to several other CDs of music by this great Romantic composer.

perfect dramatic piano.......2004-05-28

Both Liszt and Arrau are at their apogee in this CD. This is one the few piano cd's I've heard where Liszt's passionate genius is both appropriately frighteningly strong and beautifully tender (as many of his contemporaries noted 150 years ago). Arrau, always thoughtful, and with his emphasis on touch and color, and delicacy, penetrates to the heart of these sometimes breathtakingly orchestral piano sounds. This is lush arch-romantic piano with a huge nuanced sound, and a constant emotional ebb and flow (and sound volume) as powerful than any other composer of that tempestuous era I have heard. The cd is very clearly recorded with excellent dynamics. Every selection is strong and well chosen and the cd sets a very consistent brooding romantic mood. The best introduction to (and still my favorite) Liszt.

Arguably, one of the best classical pianists ever........2001-08-12

As soon as I heard the piano solo, Liebestraume, I immediately purchased this cd particularly because it contains some of the greatest piano pieces ever composed. During Liszt's lifetime, audiences were very appreciative of his talent and ability to express his emotions through the use of his piano. Influenced by Chopin, Franz Liszt ultimately achieved high status as a composer with the ability to play spectacular classical music. Some of the songs included possess titles about nature, and in one of the songs, the piano is played so brilliantly that it feels as if you're actually listening to fountains. Lovers of classical music should purchase this remarkable disc. And best of all, at a low price, this is a great bargain.

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