A Tristan Primer

Soundcheck | May 3, 2010
Wagner's Tristan und Isolde is the mother of all fatal attractions, a five-hour epic of two neurotic lovers undone but ultimately transformed by their love. The opera arrives at Avery Fisher Hall this week under the guise of "The Tristan Project," an ambitious multimedia adaptation. Today we get a primer on some famous Tristan recordings with James Jorden, editor of the online opera magazine Parterre Box.

A Trio of Tristans: Three Essential Recordings:

1) Recent: Pappano; Domingo, Stemme. (Studio recording 2004-2005). EMI Classics 558006-2.

2) Historical: Beecham; Melchior, Flagstad, Covent Garden, June 1937. This is released on several labels including Archipel ARPCD 0021-3 and Arkadia 3CD 78085.

3) James Jorden's choice: Boehm; Nilsson, Windgassen, Bayreuth 1966. Released on Deutsche Grammophon Originals 449 772-2. Also available as Philips Classics 434 425-2

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