Wagner: "Tristan und Isolde" Prelude and Liebestod (1938) Furtwängler/BPO

Richard Wagner
Tristan and Isolde
1. Prelude to Act I
2. Liebestod from Act III
Wilhelm Furtwängler, conductor
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded on February 11, 1938
at Beethovensaal, Berlin
One area of music where we are always unable to post is in complete operas. We take that as a compliment.
One cannot blame record companies for guarding their opera catalogues so jealously; Pop Stars make a lot of money fast, but Opera Stars measure their success in decades and centuries. The grandchildren of the same people who think nothing of dropping a C-note on Flagstad's "Isolde" 70 years after it was made will probably think nothing of doing the same 70 years from now.
As much as we would like to share our restorations of those with you, we understand why we cannot. Those vintage opera recordings are among the best long-term money makers in the biz.
That being said, we can share something of the genius that makes the Flagstad "Isolde" fly so high; the great conductor on the podium whose Wagner is the stuff of legends. Add to that the fact that we are listening to him in front of the Berlin Philharmonic, and we have Furtwängler's Wagner at its best.
Transfer mastering (2021): Studio Art & Son, Annecy
Field acoustic restoration (2023): Paul Howard - Yucaipa Studio
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[@leestamm3187]

Your customary excellent restoration. Furtwängler had a way with Wagner that eludes most conductors these days. It's a pleasure to hear. Thanks, as always.

[@rubewaddell1704]

Excellent.