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Customer Reviews
In this reissue of a live 1943 performance from the Met, you can hear him at the age of 53. Singing his umpteenth Tristan, he is joined by Helen Traubel, 45, an American singer who was vocally and histrionically ideal for the part of Isolde. She curses roundly in Act 1, she is impassioned in Act 2, and she is monumentally grief-stricken in Act 3. As Brangaene, the distinguished Swedish mezzo Kerstin Thorborg is one of the great strengths of the production, making her Act 2 "Warnung" with its extended phrases and long-held notes seem a magical contrast to the gasping excitement of the love duet which it divides. New to the Met was the great Russian bass Alexander Kipnis, whose wonderful voice is well fitted for portraying King Mark. The baritone Herbert Janssen who excelled in the role of Kurwenal at the Met during this era was not present on this occasion. Singing the part instead is Julius Huehn.
Conductor Erich Leinsdorf is more successful than some conductors in balancing the great epic dimensions with the intimate human qualities of this great score, and the orchestra, as in all the recordings emanating from the Met during this period, plays superbly.
The sound quality is of course a major consideration to all interested Internet browsers. I can report that it is perfectly acceptable. Miracles of editing and restoration, we are told, have achieved this result. I was aware, at the start, that the many silent pauses in the opening pages of the Prelude had been "faded" in order to remove the audience coughs, and of one or two rough tape joins, but otherwise I noticed no technical distractions. The performance contained some cuts, principally in Act 3.
Although I can't recommend the photo on the front of the jewel case, which incorrectly suggests that Helen Traubel was taller and bulkier than Melchior was, I urge all Wagner opera enthusiasts to add this budget-priced reissue to their collections.
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