Description:

This recording of Tristan und Isolde was made in a studio for broadcast on the radio and is comprised entirely of Britons.  Amy Shuard proves herself to be a formidable Isolde; imperious and passionate, vengeful and tender.  Ronald Dowd, is slightly on the lighter side of the Tristan spectrum but through the magic of recording this hardly diminishes his achievements.  His voice is actually quite sweet and he sings some of the softer moments of Act III rather beautifully.  Josephine Veasey is wonderful as Brangäne as is John Shirley-Quirk as Kurwenal and Michael Langdon as Marke.  Sir Colin Davis’ approach to the score is somewhat idiosyncratic.  He often opts for broader tempi but there are a few points in the score that seem faster than the norm.  All in all the British should be very proud of this achievement.  The sound is very good.

OD 10484-4