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Wagner Opera Tristan und Isolde

Classical Music / Opera  


Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde, or Tristan and Isolda, or Tristran and Ysolt) is an opera or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by him, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Strassburg. Composed between 1857 and 1859, it was first performed in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bulow conducting. Wagner referred the work not as an opera but called it "Eine Handlung" (literally a drama, a plot or an action). 

In 1886, 1st of December, Richard Wagner's opera Tristan and Isolde in its American premiere is enormously successful. Anton Seidl conducted the Metropolitan Opera in the New York opening.
 
This work by Wagner was inspired by the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, as well as Wagner's affair with Mathilde Wesendonck. Acknowledged as one of the peaks of the operatic repertoire, Tristan und Isolde was notable for Wagner's unprecedented use of chromaticism, orchestral colour, harmonic suspension and tonality, and was enormously influential among Western classical composers.
 
The Prelude to Act I and Isolde's Liebestod (Love Death) are often performed as concert item.
 
Listening Pleasures: 
 
Love Duet from Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" Pt. I (English Subtitles). YouTube, uploaded by Eric Anderson. Accessed December 1, 2020.
 
Richard Wagner "Tristan Und Isolde" | Carlos Ludwig Kleiber. YouTube, uploaded by Adagio. Accessed June 10, 2015. Richard Wagner - Tristan and Isolde, Complete Opera, WWV 90. Staatskapelle Dresden, Carlos Ludwig Kleiber. Deutsche Grammophon, 1982. Act I. Prelude http://youtu.be/l25J7xdhhKc Act III. Liebestod http://youtu.be/YjMwDbFng_g
 

Live Performance:

Below is Act I of Tristan und Isolde performed in 2015 by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, conducted by American conductor David Robertson.  Christine Brewer (soprano) – Isolde, Lance Ryan (tenor) – Tristan, Katarina Karnéus (mezzo-soprano) – Brangäne, Boaz Daniel (baritone) – Kurwenal, Angus Wood (tenor) – Melot,  John Tessier (tenor) – Young Sailor, Shepherd, John Relyea (bass) – Marke, King of Cornwall, Harrison Collins (baritone) – Steersman. Tristan und Isolde Act I - SSO.  YouTube, uploaded by Sydney Symphony Orchestra.  Accessed December 1, 2016. 
For those interested: Act II - here,  and Act III - here.




 

Resource:

Tristan und Isolde. en.wikipedia.org.  Accessed June 10, 2016. 
Tristan und Isolde. Opera Online. Accessed June 10, 2018.


(c) December 2016. Updated Dec 1, 2020. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

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