...is Donald Pilley (according to the Radio Times). Not a name I know at all. But here is the man himself, talking about the early days of ENO https://youtu.be/Btin7S9FMDc and https://youtu.be/drRh7dkJos0

Colin Davis is not usually associated with Wagner although he ended up conducting quite a bit of that repertoire (including a complete Ring at Covent Garden). This Tristan is a feather not only in his cap, but that of the BBC as well. Amy Shuard really should've been better known. The voice is even and attractive from top to bottom. She has no trouble with any of the notes and creates a vivid portrayal of a bitter, angry woman who becomes a loving, passionate one by the end of the opera (well, by the second act). Ronald Dowd sings Tristan extremely well with full, steady tone and no lack of power when it's needed. He and Shuard make a powerful couple. Veasey, Shirley-Quirk, and Langdon are all first-rate as is Tear as the Shepherd in the last act. I wish we were told who the Young Sailor is; he opens the opera most fetchingly with his ardent song.The sound is mostly very good, a few weird pops notwithstanding. Any lover of this opera should get this recording. It's most satisfying!

For many years Modl for von Karajan has been my standard for this work. Her wonderful passion, intensity and oddly moving voice are wonderful. However here is a very different and just as valid standard, without Modl's difficulties such as her odd breathing technique. Davis conducts a beautifully realised performance with Shuard singing passionately, beautifully and accurately. Simply wonderful. Dowd's Tristan, so very different to Vickers, my first and favourite live Tristan, is hugely touching and very moving, and also beautifully sung. Highly recommended. Thank you Opera Depot for allowing me the opportunity to hear this. I'm most grateful!

This is a great Tristan. Glad to have it. Shuard is wonderful, her rendition is simply beautiful, her Liebestod almost brakes your heart. Perhaps for a moment or two she is shouting a bit, but it would be nice to die in arms of such Isolde. Dowd is with his light voiced Tristan very interesting and not bad at all. Others Veasey, Shirley Quirk (for me especially), Langdon and Tear are all great. It is also nice to hear BBC Symphony Orchestra and to to have SIr Colin Davis conducting them, since I am not used to listen to him in Wagner.

Ronald Dowd was Australian but is unfortunately deceased. The Act III is from a different performance a Prom Concert which I attended with almost an identical cast except for Donald Bell as Kurwenal. It was performed on Tuesday 21 July 1970 and later (re)brodcast on 26th March 1972.The complete Tristan from the BBC 1969 was recorded in the studio.There are at least four Turandots available from the ROHwith Prevedi Conductor Downes 28/2/1963with Corelli Conductor Mackerras 28/5/1966with Nikolov Conductor Downes date uncertainwith Konya Conductor Delogu 9/10/1973Only one Elektra has surface and it is in not good sound with Collier Modl Lanigan Shaw Conductor Downes 15/9/1966 but I am sure there must be others.

I think Ronald Dowd was (is?) Australian but that almost counts as a Brit. He was a memorable Grimes, Samson and Aeneas, usually standing in for Vickers with similar vocal idiosyncrasies and intense involvement in the character . He very rarely sang Wagner on stage.Thanks for the Shuard Isolde at last, as I have treasured a tape of Act 3 from this broadcast for 40 years. Strangely she never got to sing the part on stage in London .Can we have recordings of her Elektra and Turandot now, only eclipsed by Nilsson at that period.

This is as fine a Tristan as is possible. Following it with a full orchestral score one is amazed, firstly, by the accuracy of all concerned. The drama in Shuard’s interpretation draws you in to the character immediately, the narration and curse quite hair raising, the Liebestod ineffably lovely and moving. Dowd sings his role magnificently rising to all the challenges. Encouraged by the thrilling conducting of Davis the passage in act two when the two lovers rush into each other’s arms is overwhelming – I don’t think I’ve ever heard better. Add to that near perfect renditions of Brangaene, Kurwenal, Marke and the shepherd and the playing of the BBCSO and very good recording quality this is unmissable.