Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Wagner: Karajan

Ecstasy Achieved! The Most Devastating Tristan Prelude Ever

dv_forever | Michigan, USA | 11/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a review of the digital Karajan Gold Wagner album. As many of you know, Karajan had recorded this music many times before, for complete opera sets as well as orchestral recordings. For those of you who think Karajan's powers declined as he got older, especially in the 1980's, you are probably right in thinking that Karajan did all this music better in the past. For the most part that is true. Take the Tannhauser Overture and Venusberg Music for instance, this is a spellbinding account of this score but as good as it is, Karajan's earlier EMI version is superior in interpretation as well as recorded sound. The DG Gold CD is quite fierce in the upper frequencies and the sound is not altogether natural. The earlier EMI record which I have also reviewed is expansive, lush, just about a perfect compliment to such a manic, intense interpretation. So yes, you are right, Karajan did better before.



The next selection is the Prelude to Act 3 of The Mastersingers of Nuremberg, which although brief is most captivating. The last thing on this disc is the Prelude to Act 1 and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde. To be honest, which I always am, I have heard finer accounts of the Liebestod and I prefer to have it with the singer anyway. Karajan recorded it with Jessye Norman in Salzburg several years later and that is a ravishing record no doubt.



What ultimately gets me crazy about this Karajan Gold CD so much is the Tristan and Isolde Prelude to Act 1, which is unrestrained, tumultuous, orgasmic, ecstatic, overwhelming, brilliant, rapturous, maniacal in a way that no performance since the advent of recorded sound has ever approached. There is something that is demented about this performance. The sound is not the best, it's overly analytical, too internally detailed and has digital fierceness in spades but oh my God, what a performance! It's soul searing, really. The Gramophone Guide went so far as to say that Karajan conducts so powerfully we are thankful that the opera doesn't start afterwards because the listener is too emotionally drained at that point. I not only agree with their assessment but this is how I have always craved for the famous Tristan Prelude to be conducted.



If you can find this Karajan Gold recording, do yourself a favor and buy it immediately, it's a collector's item as far as I'm concerned. Just owning this CD for those 12 minutes of the Tristan and Isolde Prelude is worth it. I can't bear to give it anything less than 5 stars!

"

Nothing Wasted

kakistocracy | Omaha, NE United States | 09/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
A phenomenally intense collection from 1984. The duration is fifty minutes. While you may find more completely filled discs of this music at a variety of price ranges, that shouldn't be the main concern with a disc of Wagner excerpts. The performance of the Tristan prelude is probably unsurpassable, and the recordings are impressively full and detailed. A great Wagnerian experience--but please don't drive when listening to the "Bacchanale"."