Tristan und Isolde (CD): Wilhelm Furtwängler, Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Conductor: Wilhelm Furtwängler
Tristan: Ludwig Suthaus
Isolde: Kirsten Flagstad
Brangäne: Blanche Thebom
König Marke: Josef Greindl
Kurwenal: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Melot: Edgar Evans
Seemann: Rudolf Schock
Hirt: Rudolf Schock
Steuermann: Rhoderick Davies
Philharmonia Orchestra
Chorus of the Royal Operahouse, Covent Garden
Mono studio recording from 1952
Reviews
"The concept is spacious from the opening Prelude onwards,
but equally the bite and colour of the drama are vividly conveyed, matching
the nobility of Flagstad's portrait of Isolde.
The richly
commanding power of her singing and her always distinctive timbre make
it a uniquely compelling performance. Suthaus is not of
the same calibre as Heldentenor, but he avoids ugliness and strain. Among the others, the only remarkable performance comes
from the young Fischer-Dieskau as Kurwenal,
not ideally cast but keenly imaginative."
The Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music
"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
See also
- Other recordings of Tristan und Isolde
- Wagner on CD
- Wagner on DVD
- Isolde's Liebestod (different versions)