Richard Wagner – Tristan und Isolde: Liebesduett

UPC: 8 20 634

Product Details

• Composer: Richard Wagner (1813–1883)
• Work: Tristan und Isolde (Excerpts – Act II: Liebesduett)

• Featured Roles:

  • Isolde – Birgit Nilsson (Soprano)
  • Tristan – Fritz Uhl (Tenor)
  • Brangäne – Regina Resnik (Mezzo-soprano)
  • Kurwenal – Tom Krause (Baritone)
• Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Label: ETERNA
• Catalog Number: 8 20 634
• Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo
• Release Date: ca. 1960s (GDR)
• Country of Release: German Democratic Republic (DDR)
• Recording Venue: Vienna
• Original Producers: Decca (London), licensed for ETERNA

Overview

The Ecstatic Heart of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde in a Legendary Performance

This ETERNA stereo LP presents one of the most iconic excerpts from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde: the transcendent Liebesduett from Act II, recorded by a dream cast under the legendary baton of Georg Solti. At the center is the searing partnership of Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson, at the height of her vocal power, and Austrian tenor Fritz Uhl as the tormented Tristan.

The performance captures the spellbinding nocturnal ecstasy of the lovers' secret encounter, culminating in the duet “O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe”, one of Wagner’s most sensuous and metaphysical love scenes. Regina Resnik lends warm support as Brangäne, with Tom Krause as the loyal Kurwenal.

Solti’s conducting with the Vienna Philharmonic offers radiant textures and dramatic intensity, providing a revelatory window into Wagner’s vision of love as annihilation and transcendence.

Product Features

• Extended excerpt from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, focused on the Act II love duet
• Star performances by Birgit Nilsson and Fritz Uhl, leading postwar Wagner singers
• Backed by the Vienna Philharmonic under Georg Solti’s dynamic leadership
• Includes supporting roles by Regina Resnik and Tom Krause
• ETERNA pressing licensed from Decca for East German distribution
• Liner notes by Werner Wolf, with biographical and interpretive commentary
• High-quality stereo vinyl produced by VEB Deutsche Schallplatten

Track Listing

Side A

• Hörst du sie noch?... Isolde!... Tristan! (Prelude to the duet scene – Act II excerpt)

Side B

• O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe (Tristan and Isolde’s Liebesduett – Act II)

Key Credits

• Isolde: Birgit Nilsson (Soprano)
• Tristan: Fritz Uhl (Tenor)
• Brangäne: Regina Resnik (Mezzo-soprano)
• Kurwenal: Tom Krause (Baritone)
• Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Liner Notes: Werner Wolf (in German)
• Production: Decca (London), licensed to ETERNA

BOX #34

BOX #154