Cheap Wagner: Tristan und Isolde / Meier, Jerusalem, Lipovsek, Struckmann, Heilmann, Botha; Barenboim (Music) (Richard Wagner, Berliner Philharmoniker, Daniel Barenboim, Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Marjana Lipovsek, Falk Struckmann, Uwe Heilmann, Johan Botha) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of Wagner: Tristan und Isolde / Meier, Jerusalem, Lipovsek, Struckmann, Heilmann, Botha; Barenboim

Ms Meier makes an unusual Isolde. I have not decided if she is really a soprano who also has nice rounded bottom end or a mezzo-soprano who can reach the high notes. Either way, her Isolde is not to my taste. I acknowledge her intelligent word-pointing and innate musicianship, but ultimately she lacks the vocal radiance and incandescence of the great Isoldes on record. Just hear her Liebestod and realize how much more effective it would sound with a proper soprano voice. In this ecstatic music, a proper Isolde will give the impression of a soul soaring impassionedly into a spiritual union with her Tristan. Instead, the low tones and lack of brightness in Meier's mezzo makes this poor Isolde very earth-bound!

The rest of the cast is adequate, Jerusalem especially. I have not been a fan of Barenboim's conducting forays, particularly his CSO/Erato efforts. Here, I will withhold the vitrol and just say that he makes a competent accompanist for the singers here but in no way does he rival the great recorded conductors' command of Wagner's score. Not Furtwangler, not Karajan, not Bohm, not Bernstein, not Beecham/Reiner, and certainly not Kleiber either. One only has to listen to the incessant presence of the brass in this Barenboim, to realize his lack for care for orchestral balance. This brassy balance makes the string-playing sound tinny and insignificant.

In summary, this is a Tristan you can overlook if you plan to have only one great Tristan recording in your collection. The alternatives to this Barenboim are far more desirable.

Exceptional Tristan
Barenboim is the preeminent Wagnerian conductor of the day, as shown in this, his greatest Wagner recording so far. Meier, Jerusalem, Lipsovek all in majestic voice, living the roles, line by line... clear, balanced digital recording... wonderful recording that I listen to often.

two star rating is generous!
I have seen and heard tristan Und Isolde performances which had either a poor tristan or one that just got through the evening. I remember three tenors at Nilsson's Met debut...
But here we have a perfectly intelligent artist, Waltraud Meier,
all together out of her class giving the worst performance of Isolde on record.
Who told this artist she could sing one of the most demanding roles ever written. A mezzo soprano no less??!!
Is Barenboim out there or what?
Doesn't anyone listen? Maybe we are really about money!