RICHARD WAGNER
Tristan und Isolde
Tristan: John Mitchinson
Isolde: Linda Esther Gray
König Marke: Gwynne Howell
Kurwenal: Phillip Joll
Brangäne: Anne Wilkens
Melot: Nicholas Folwell
Ein Hirt: Arthur Davies
Ein Steuermann: Geoffrey Moses
Ein Junger Seemann: John Harris
Chorus of Welsh National Opera
Julian Smith, chorus master
Orchestra of Welsh National Opera
John Stein, leader
Anthony Negus, assistant conductor
Reginald Goodall
Recording Producer: Andrew Cornall
Assistant Producer: Michael Haas
Balance Engineers: John Dunkerley, Stanley Goodall
Recording Location: Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, Wales, 17–21 November 1980 & 19–23 January 1981
Original Decca LP Release: D250D5
The reissue of this edition of ‘Tristan und Isolde’ has been made possible through the kind support of: Henkell Brothers, Maureen Wheeler, Alun and Pat Kenwood, Elisabeth and Peter Turner, and The Wagner Society in Queensland.
‘What will come as a surprise to many is the passion and excitement that the conductor brings to the score – it is an incandescent reading … John Mitchinson sounds a true ‘Heldentenor’ Tristan, very much like Ludwig Suthaus in the Furtwängler recording … Gwynne Howell’s moving and finely sung King Mark would be an asset to any performance of ‘Tristan’.’ Opera magazine, October 1981
‘This may not be the definitive ‘Tristan’; but it is difficult to imagine a more beautiful one … The orchestra is instantly of international calibre … The singing is every bit as good … Linda Esther Gray is an outstanding Isolde … Every note is performed with rare fidelity.’ The Musical Times, April 1982
‘I believe this to be one of the most important Wagnerian recordings ever made, one that future generations will label “historic” … this is a truly great performance, engineered with marvelously free and open sound and a very natural perspective … the result is as close to Wagner’s total concept of musical drama as it may be possible to come.’ Fanfare, November 1995