Wagner - Tristan und Isolde - Vickers, Nilsson - Bohm 19732*DVD - PAL - 4:3 - Cover - Dolby Digital - 240min. -
Subtitles: English, French, Italian, German
Hardy 2003
Actors: Birgit Nilsson, Jon Vickers, Ruthe Hesse, Walter Berry, Bengt Rundgren
Directors: Pierre Jourdan
Birgit Nilsson & Jon Vickers "Love duet" Tristan und Isolde:
The great soprano Birgit Nilsson stars in her signature role of Isolde in this historic performance filmed live at the Theatre Antique d'Orange in France in 1973. Jon Vickers co-stars as Tristan in this famed production, which is performed under the musical direction of the legendary conductor Karl Bohm, with the Orchestre National de RTF.
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First the stage setting. With such a heavy philosophical underpining it can be abstract if done with restraint. The swords must be retained. (Flick knives on a modern liner just look silly.) In this production the abstract setting together with the lighting effects are non-intrusive. Tristan wears chain mail and carries a knight's sword.
The parts of Tristan and Isolde demand great voices. With Jon Vickers and Birgit Nilsson we get nothing less. In particular, when Nilsson hits the high notes powerfully one does not wince as with most other sopranos who tackle this role. Brangaene sung by Ruth Hesse is very good and the singers of the other parts do not disappoint.
About 7 years previously Karl Bohm had conducted at Bayreuth a performance (available on CD) of ovewhelming intensity also featuring Birgit Nilsson. To be blunt, L'Orchestra National de l'ORTF was not world class in 1973 and Bohm had aged noticeably by that time. Although there is not the same overall drive as at Bayreuth (the overture is too slow and rather mannered) Bohm could still pull out the stops sufficiently as required and his general tempi are not sluggish. In the finale the Liebestod is gently beautiful, inward rather than declamatory, ideally presented with Nilsson in white having taken off her black cloak and supported by the right lighting. Amazon
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