Wagner - Tristan und Isolde (3-DVD)

Glyndebourne's celebrated production of Nikolaus Lehnhoff's Tristan und Isolde is a
supremely intelligent achievement; gravely beautiful, haunting and meditative, it is deeply reflective rather than visceral, fortified by Roland Aeschlimann's stunningly effective set, a womb-like space through which the protagonists move like gods. Conductor Ji¢rí Be¢lohlávek mirrors Lehnhoff's approach in his sophisticated reading of the score's depths, with every shift in texture carefully laid bare by an inspired London Philharmonic Orchestra. Nina Stemme's Isolde and Robert Gambill's Tristan - both gloriously lyrical - are matched by superb performances from René Pape as the betrayed and vulnerable King Marke, Katarina Karnéus as a sharp Brangäne and Bo Skovhus as Kurwenal, deeply touching in his helpless devotion to Tristan. This High Definition recording of a production of uncommon intimacy reveals the opera's music and drama in a new light.