Like Andy, I've admired Dvorakova a great deal for her unique voice. I don't find her particularly memorable though most of the time and this performance shows why. She knows her role well and sings admirably with a tendency to scoop up into high notes (her high Bs and Cs here are right on the mark). Yet she doesn't do anything very personal or specific with either the music or the text. Parly muscles his way through Tristan's punishing music and certainly impresses with his commitment. There's a reason he faded from the opera scene fairly quickly. One gets the sense that he was thrown into the Wagnerian waters too soon. He's not terrible, but (like Dvorakova) not very memorable. Töpper finds Brangäne's music high and not always comfortable. I find her phrasing in the Act Two Watch beautiful and she is one of the few singers who does the shriek at the climax of the love duet as Wagner wrote. Feldhoff is a marvelous Kurwenal (such a fine voice!) and Crass sings Marke's monologue with great beauty of tone. Previtali conducts very well, leading a solid, sometimes galvanizing performance.The basic sound (from a broadcast) is good, but there is a lot more than just a little ghosting, especially in the third act, irritating during quiet passages. There are a few tape burbles too, but we're lucky to have this recording at all.Fans of the singers should have this.

Sadly, one of the few recorded examples of Previtali conducting German opera. It seems he was a master of ALL opera. The whole interpretation is soaked with experience and knowledge of the score, but if I had to pick out ONE detail that proves this point is his broading out the tempo at Kurvenal's entrance after T & I have taken the potion, which allows one to hear the beautiful and striking orchestral accompaniment for once. There is even an ELEKTRA available with him conducting.

I like this Tristan. Crass is great King Marke, singing with beautiful rich voice. Previtali make's a very vidid and energetic conducting, which is nice to listen to. Topper, Feldhoff, Mastromei, Sassola, Valori and Galiardo all nice in their roles. I must confess - Dvorakova was a bit of dissapointment. I got the filling that Isolde is role to big for her, but on the other hand, her Liebestod is very moving. I liked Parly, however his voice is bit strained in the third Act, but very moving, too.