Glyndebourne’s celebrated production of Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s
Tristan und Isolde is a supremely intelligent achievement; gravely
beautiful, haunting and meditative, it is deeply reflective rather
than visceral, fortified by Roland Aeschlimann's stunningly
effective set, a womb-like space through which the protagonists
move like gods. Conductor Jirí Belohlávek mirrors Lehnhoff's
approach in his sophisticated plumbing of the score's depths,
with every shift in texture carefully laid bare by an inspired
London Philharmonic Orchestra. Nina Stemme's Isolde and
Robert Gambill's Tristan, both gloriously lyrical, are matched by
superb performances from René Pape as the betrayed and
vulnerable King Marke and Bo Skovhus as Kurwenal, deeply
touching in his helpless devotion to Tristan. This High Definition
recording of a production of uncommon intimacy reveals the
opera's music and drama in a new light.
2 DISC SET
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Tristan: Robert Gambill
Isolde: Nina Stemme
Brangäne: Katarina Karnéus
Kurwenal: Bo Skovhus
King Marke: René Pape
Melot: Stephen Gadd
Young Sailor/Shepherd: Timothy Robinson
Steersman: Richard Mosley-Evans
The Glyndebourne Chorus
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Jirí Belohlávek
Stage Director: Nikolaus Lehnhoff
Recorded live at Glyndebourne, Lewes, Sussex on 1st August and
6th August 2007.
Bonus material:
Illustrated synopsis & cast gallery
Do I hear the light? - a film by Reiner E. Moritz
Artist biographies.
‘On the set’ - a slide show of the set being built.
‘Trimborn on Tristan’ – a talk by Richard Trimborn
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‘I don’t think that I have ever witnessed a more perfect
realisation of a Wagner opera than this superb Tristan
und Isolde. …[Jirí Belohlávek] is scrupulous with the
score, and takes his time over it: the pauses and silences
are immense and there is no factitious attempt to whip
up excitement by speeding. …a great and unforgettable
occasion’
The Daily Telegraph