Tristan und Isolde

I love Tristan and Isolde very much, and this production directed by Jean-Pierre Ponelle is one of the best Tristans I've seen, much preferring over the very good but flawed 1974 version with Vickers(my favourite Tristan alongside Melchoir), Nilsson and Berry.

I do also heartily disagree with the negative reviewer about this Tristan. At the top of my head I can't think of anybody who played these two difficult roles in their 20s, and chances are if anybody attempted to sing them chances are after singing roles that heavy for about a decade unless they have great technique and stamina they may face the prospect of early retirement.

I loved Ponelle's stage direction, it is very romantically naturalistic and poetic, with the encircling robes symbolising Isolde's imprisonment and the gnarled tree trunk doubling as the ship and castle. The costumes and photography are excellent. The orchestra are wonderful, particularly in the Leibestod and I also haven't heard a more yearning or poignant first-act prelude since the brilliant 1972 Herbert Von Karajan recording with Vickers as Tristan. And Daniel Barenboim's conducting is magnificent.

The performances are simply terrific. Rene Kollo is towards the peak of his career, and he makes for a very expressive Tristan, really coming into his own in act 3 which is not easy at all. Johanna Meier is more than a perfect match for him as Isolde, she looks wonderful, she can act and she has a terrific(not not exactly huge) voice that doesn't feel pushed. Her Leibestod is just heart breaking. Hanna Schwarz is very intense as Brangane, but my favourite performance is Matti Salminen's deeply moving King Mark.

Overall, simply wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox