Tristan und Isolde

Richard Wagner (1813–1883)

DESCRIPTION

This performance of Tristan und Isolde affirms that a cast unburdened by marquee "star-power" can still yield a reading of notable depth and artistry. Catarina Ligendza, in an early assumption of Isolde, brings a fresh and promising interpretation. While she does not yet command the role with the authority she would later attain—particularly in her celebrated collaborations with Carlos Kleiber—the youthful clarity of her voice provides a compelling counterpoint to more matronly portrayals.

Claude Heater matches her with a similarly youthful, burnished tone and a thoughtful inwardness that serves the role of Tristan well. His suffering in Act III emerges with striking immediacy, not merely through vocal heft but through an intelligent, nuanced approach to phrasing and color. Malcolm Smith proves a distinguished King Marke, while Luigi Toffolo demonstrates an instinctive grasp of Wagnerian idiom, balancing stylistic fidelity with a keen sense of dramatic contour.

CAST

Tristan – Claude Heater
Isolde – Catarina Ligendza
Brangäne – Sylvia Anderson
König Marke – Malcolm Smith
Kurwenal – Antonin Svorc
Melot – Lucio Rolli

DETAILS

Location: Trieste
Date: December 13, 1969
Conductor: Luigi Toffolo
Catalogue Number: OD 12292-3
Label: Opera Depot
Number of Discs: 3
In Mono