Tristan und Isolde (Richard Wagner); Bulgarian Festival Orchestra and Chorus; conducted by Glen Cortese. (Live recording, Feb. 8, 2004, Sofia, Bulgaria.) Titanic Recording—CD format.
It is wonderful to have a lively new recording of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. Glen Cortese conducts here, with a careful but still beautiful reading of this complex and sensual score. The Bulgarian Festival Orchestra, alas, is not a world-class ensemble—I had hoped for a lovelier tone from the violins and a more burnished sound from the brass—but Cortese’s sensitive conducting makes this recording a real pleasure.
Susan Marie Pierson’s lovely soprano makes her Isolde a captivating Irish princess, and her lovely voice functions as a dramatic conduit to make this Isolde a passionate and suicidal femme fatale. Marc Deaton takes the killer heldentenor role of Tristan and creates a musical and dramatic presence here, emphasizing the lyrical but doomed quality of this adulterous knight.
Gwendolyn Jones’ Brangäne provides solid vocal support. She makes a wonderful foil to the more hysterical Isolde, and Jones’ beautiful mezzo-soprano voice adds to the pleasure of this recording. David Malis acts as an interesting baritone foil to the doomed Tristan, emphasizing the rhythmic incisiveness of this character. Ethan Herschenfeld brings out the vocal pathos of King Marke, betrayed by his most loyal knight and his beloved nephew. If only this orchestra provided a higher quality sound for this impressive cast and conductor.
