Genre:

Opera

Release Date:

Jun 2018

Number of Discs:

4

Catalog Number:

OACD9033D

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Bayreuth Festival)

Robert Dean Smith (Tristan); Iréne Theorin (Isolde); Robert Holl (King Marke); Jukka Rasilainen (Kurwenal); Ralf Lukas (Melot); Michelle Breedt (Brangäne); Clemens Bieber (A young sailor); Arnold Bezuyen (A shepherd); Martin Snell (A steersman);

​Katharina Wagner, the great-grand daughter of Richard Wagner, iscurrently director of the festival. Tristan und Isolde was first performed in 1865 and provided inspiration to many composers including Mahler,Strauss, Szymanowski and Berg. It is widely acknowledged as one of thepeaks of the operatic repertoire, and has been performed regularly sinceits premiere. This production, by renowned director Christoph Marthaler,stars leading Wagner exponents Robert Dean Smith and Iréne Theorin inthe title roles, supported by the Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestraconducted by Peter Schneider.


Tristan - Robert Dean Smith

Isolde - Iréne Theorin

König Marke - Robert Holl

Kurwenal - Jukka Rasilainen

Melot - Ralf Lukas

Brangäne - Michelle Breedt


Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Chorus

Conductor - Peter Schneider

Reviews

"Peter Schneider conducted with real feeling for the score and the prelude to the first act stole upon the ear with the magic of Bayreuth’s amazing acoustics. Robert Dean Smith is now a fine Tristan with a really beautiful voice...Robert Holl made a moving King Marke, his magnificent bass nobly used. Some of the most beautiful singing came from Clemens Bieber’s Young Seaman at the beginning." (The Stage)

"In Tristan the standard of conducting and singing is high. Peter Schneider draws seamless playing from the orchestra, contouring Wagner’s long arcs of sound as only someone of his experience can do. Iréne Theorin and Robert Dean Smith make a well-balanced couple - she all temperament and sound, he emotionally neutral but vocally flawless." (The Financial Times)

"Despite the ferocious competition, absolutely unmissable." (Gramophone)