WAGNER 3 Cds the Royal Swedish Orchestra Traces Its Origins from the Court Chapel of the Sixteenth Century and Is One of the World’S Oldest Orchestras

Home , Hedwig Fassbender, Ludwig II of Bavaria, Music of the Future, Opera and Drama, Royal Dramatic Theatre, Tristan chord

660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 12

The Royal Swedish Orchestra WAGNER 3 CDs The Royal Swedish Orchestra traces its origins from the Court Chapel of the sixteenth century and is one of the world’s oldest orchestras. In 1773 Gustav III transformed it into an opera band. As the only professional orchestra in nineteenth-century Sweden it also regularly gave concerts with symphonic and vocal works. Its first encounter with Wagner’s music was probably with the Tannhäuser Overture in 1856. During the twentieth century, the orchestra Tristan und Isolde grew from around sixty to almost a hundred members. Today it numbers 114. Millgramm • Forsén • Fassbender The Royal Opera Chorus Lundberg • Kyhle • Dike The Royal Opera Chorus was created from scratch in 1773 for the first Swedish opera. At the transfer to the newly built Gustavian Opera House at Gustav Adolfs Torg in 1782, it is said to have numbered eighty members. The Royal Swedish Opera Male Chorus and Orchestra number dwindled during the nineteenth century. During its co-existence with the Royal Dramatic Theatre until 1887 chorus members also frequently took minor spoken parts in drama and musical plays. Today the chorus numbers sixty members. The chorus masters are Christina Hörnell and Folke Alin. Leif Segerstam

The Royal Swedish Opera

Gustav III founded the Royal Swedish Opera in 1773. The first opera house on the current site was inaugurated in 1782. From the early nineteenth century until 1887, the Royal Theatre was the national theatre for opera and ballet as well as spoken drama and concerts. Many company members appeared both in opera and drama and from 1826 to 1863 all genres even shared the same stage. Wagner was introduced with Rienzi in 1865. The old Gustavian theatre was demolished in 1892. Die Walküre had its Swedish première at Svenska Teatern. The present Opera House opened in 1898. Tristan und Isolde was first given there in 1909.

Leif Segerstam

Leif Segerstam was born in Finland and studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Juilliard School, New York. He has been active at the Royal Swedish Opera from 1968, serving as chief conductor and music director from 1995 to 2000. Among his many performances in later years have been Capriccio, Lohengrin, Parsifal, Otello, Wozzeck and The Makropoulos Case. He served as chief conductor of the Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1975 to 1987, of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1987, as Generalmusikdirektor of the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz from 1983 to 1989, and chief conductor of the Denmark Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1988 to 1995, and of the Helsinki Filharmoni. He has composed symphonies, solo concertos and other works, and made many recordings, including, for Naxos, Wagner Choruses (8.557714), Berg’s Wozzeck (8.660076-77) and Korngold’s Die tote Stadt (8.660060-61).

8.660152-54 12 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 2

Richard Magnus Kyhle WAGNER (1813–1883) Magnus Kyhle, tenor, studied at the Royal Academy of Music and University College of Opera in Stockholm, making his operatic début in 1983 as Bardolfo in Falstaff at the TRISTAN UND ISOLDE Norrlandsoperan. An effective character tenor with a wide repertoire including operas by A Music-Drama in Three Acts (1857–59) Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Richard Strauss, Bizet. Puccini, Mussorgsky, JanáÇek, and operas by Swedish composers, he has also appeared with Darmstadt Opera, the Landestheater Salzburg and Volkstheater Rostock. Tristan ...... Wolfgang Millgramm (tenor) King Marke ...... Lennart Forsén (bass) Isolde ...... Hedwig Fassbender (soprano) Gunnar Lundberg Kurwenal ...... Gunnar Lundberg (baritone) The baritone Gunnar Lundberg studied at the Royal Academy of Music, Stockholm, making his Melot ...... Magnus Kyhle (tenor) operatic début in 1986 as the Mystic in Jan Wallgren’s Balagantjik at Marionetten with the Royal Swedish Opera. His repertoire includes leading baritone rôles in operas by Mozart, Donizetti, Brangäne ...... Martina Dike (mezzo-soprano) Verdi, Wagner, Richard Strauss, Bizet, Puccini, and Gounod, as well as contemporary Swedish Ein Hirt / Junger Seemann (A shepherd / A young sailor) ...... operas. He has undertaken guest performances at the Finnish National Opera and Drottningholm ...... Ulrik Qvale (tenor) Court Theatre, and has appeared as a soloist in recordings of major choral works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Steuermann (Helmsman) ...... John Erik Eleby (baritone)

Kungliga Operans Manskör (Royal Swedish Opera Male Chorus) Wolfgang Millgramm (Sailors, knights and squires) The tenor Wolfgang Millgramm performs regularly in international concert halls and opera houses in Kungliga Hovkapellet (Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra) Paris, Tokyo, Bayreuth, Dresden, and elsewhere. He has worked with Jiri Kout and Christian conducted by Leif Segerstam Thielemann and given concerts at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. His repertoire includes Andrea Chénier and Otello, Radames in Aida, Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana, Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos, Florestan in Fidelio, Erik in Der fliegende Holländer, Tannhäuser, Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Siegfried in Götterdämmerung and Parsifal.

Sung texts for this release are available as PDF files online at www.naxos.com/libretti/tristan.htm. This measure Ulrik Qvale is designed to help keep our releases at an affordable price and maintain Naxos’ position as leader in the budget- priced market. The tenor Ulrik Qvale studied at the University College of Opera, Stockholm, and made his operatic début in 1992 as Prince Pietro in von Suppé’s Boccaccio at the Royal Swedish Opera. He has appeared in many rôles with the same company, including those of Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, Die gesungenen Texte dieser CD sind als PDF-Dateien online unter www.naxos.com/libretti/tristan.htm the Captain in Wozzeck, the Witch in Hänsel und Gretel, the Fisherman in Stravinsky’s Nightingale, erhältlich. Das soll helfen, den günstigen Preis unserer Veröffentlichungen und die führende Position von Naxos the Steersman in Der fliegende Holländer, Va‰ek and Jeník in The Bartered Bride. He has also in diesem Preissegment zu halten. undertaken engagements at the Folkoperan, Stockholm, as Loge in Das Rheingold, Don José in Carmen and Gustavus III in Un ballo in maschera.

8.660152-54 2 11 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 10

Martina Dike CD 1 63:41 CD 2 78:25

The mezzo-soprano Martina Dike studied at the Royal Academy of Music, Stockholm, and the ACT ONE ACT ONE (conclusion) University College of Opera in the same city. She made her operatic début in 1997 as Carmen at Folkoperan, a rôle she has also performed at the Royal Swedish Opera and the Gothenburg Opera. 1 Prelude 11:50 1 War Morold dir so wert 3:02 Her repertoire includes Maddalena in Rigoletto, Clairon in Capriccio, Adalgisa in Norma, the (Tristan, Isolde) Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos and Countess Geschwitz in Lulu. She has undertaken guest Scene I performances at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, the Barbican in London, at Aix-en-Provence and at the 2 Westwärts schweift der Blick 5:58 2 Ho! he! ha! he! 4:39 Frankfurt Opera. (A young sailor, Isolde, Brangäne) (Sailors, Isolde, Brangäne, Tristan)

Scene II 3 Auf, das Tau! 5:20 John Erik Eleby 3 Frisch weht der Wind 4:16 (Sailors, Isolde, Tristan) (A young sailor, Isolde, Brangäne, Tristan, The bass-baritone John Erik Eleby studied at the Royal Academy of Music and University College Kurwenal, Sailors) 4 Heil! König Marke Heil! 4:11 of Opera in Stockholm, making his operatic début in 1995 as Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem (Men’s voices, Isolde, Brangäne, Tristan, Kurwenal) Serail at Confidencen, Stockholm. He has appeared in many rôles at the Royal Swedish Opera, 4 Hab’ acht, Tristan! 5:01 including Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, the Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlos, Sparafucile in (Kurwenal, Isolde, Brangäne, Tristan, Sailors) ACT TWO Rigoletto, Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Escamillo in Carmen, and Kecal in The Bartered Bride. He has also undertaken engagements at other Swedish opera houses. Scene III 5 Prelude 1:57 5 Weh, ach wehe! 5:56 (Brangäne, Isolde) Scene I Hedwig Fassbender 6 Hörst du sie noch? 11:31 6 O Wunder! Wo hatt’ ich die Augen? 5:29 (Isolde, Brangäne) Hedwig Fassbender had sung a number of different rôles before finally undertaking her (Brangäne, Tristan) triumphant first Isolde in 2001. Initially trained as a pianist, she went on to study voice in Scene II Munich with Ernst Haefliger. She was a member of the opera companies in Freiburg and Basel, 7 O Süße, Traute! 4:37 7 Isolde! Geliebte! 7:53 and sang the most important rôles of the lyric mezzo-soprano-repertoire, including Cherubino, (Brangäne, Isolde) (Tristan, Isolde) Octavian, Rosina, Dorabella, Idamantes at the Hamburg Staatsoper, Marguerite in La damnation de Faust in Amsterdam, Nicklausse in Les contes d’Hoffmann in Barcelona, at the Bastille in 8 Kennst du der Mutter 3:34 8 O sink’ hernieder 4:31 Paris, in Vienna, Basel and Lyon. Isolde, her first dramatic soprano rôle, was followed by Marie in Wozzeck, the (Brangäne, Isolde) (Tristan, Isolde) Marschallin in Lyon and, among Wagnerian rôles, Sieglinde in Liège, followed by Kundry and Brünnhilde. Scene IV 9 Einsam wachend in der Nacht 2:23 9 Auf! Auf! Ihr Frauen! 8:04 (Brangäne, Isolde, Tristan) Lennart Forsén (Kurwenal, Isolde, Brangäne) 0 Lausch’, Geliebter! 3:48 The bass Lennart Forsén studied at the Royal Academy of Music and University College of Opera in Scene V (Isolde, Tristan) Stockholm. He made his operatic début in 1986 as the Archbishop in The Maid of Orléans at the Royal 0 Begehrt, Herrin 8:57 Swedish Opera. In 1994-95 he was with Leipzig Opera and from 1998 to 2000 with the Deutsche Oper (Tristan, Isolde) ! Doch unsre Liebe 4:21 am Rhein, Düsseldorf/Duisburg. His repertoire includes Landgrave Hermann in Tannhäuser, Daland in (Isolde, Brangäne, Tristan) Der fliegende Holländer, the Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, the King in Aida, and Sparafucile in Rigoletto. He has also appeared at the Finnish National Opera, the Théâtre de @ Soll ich lauschen? 4:59 la Monnaie, Frankfurt and Hanover Operas, and the Salzburger Festspiele. (Tristan, Isolde)

8.660152-54 10 3 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 4

Scene III CD 3 70:07 to join him in the sunless land of his birth. She agrees; wild confusion he begins to blame himself for the # Rette dich, Tristan! 11:56 Tristan kisses her. fateful love potion that is causing such misery. (Kurwenal, Tristan, Melot) ACT THREE % Melot, incensed by the frustration of his own love for 7 He falls back again, fainting, to Kurwenal’s dismay, her or jealous with his own love for Tristan, his friend, then revives, seeming to see the ship that brings Isolde, $ O König, das kann ich dir nicht sagen 5:55 1 Prelude 4:04 attacks him. Tristan falls wounded into the arms of and telling Kurwenal that he too must see it. (Tristan, Isolde) Kurwenal. 8 At last a lively tune is heard from the shepherd. 2 Scene I 2:58 Kurwenal watches, describing the scene to Tristan, as, in % Verräter! ha! 2:01 CD 3 the distance, Isolde steps ashore and he goes to meet her. (Melot, Tristan, Kurwenal) 3 Kurwenal! He! 9:13 (A shepherd, Tristan, Kurwenal) Act III Scene 2 Tristan’s castle at Kareol in Brittany. 9 In agitated anticipation of her arrival at the castle, 4 Dünkt dich das? 6:10 Tristan rips the bandages from his wound and struggles to (Tristan) 1 An elegiac prelude introduces the act. greet Isolde as she hurries to him. 0 Fainting from his wound, he sinks down before her, and 5 Der einst ich trotzt 5:24 Scene 1 with her name on his lips, he dies in her arms. Unable, to (Kurwenal, Tristan) 2 Tristan is seen lying unconscious under a lime-tree in revive him, Isolde falls insensible to the ground. the courtyard of his castle, tended by Kurwenal. A 6 Noch ist kein Schiff zu sehn! 9:22 shepherd is heard playing a sad tune on his pipe. (Kurwenal, Tristan) 3 He soon appears, asking Kurwenal about Tristan. He Scene 3 is told that the only one to help is Isolde, and to return to ! The shepherd tells Kurwenal that he can see a second 7 Mein Herre! Tristan! 6:39 his watch. Should he see Isolde’s ship approaching the ship approaching and the helmsman confirms that King (Kurwenal, Tristan) coastline, he should play instead a cheerful melody. No Marke and others are aboard. Brangäne arrives and vessel is yet in sight, so the sad tune continues. Soon when Melot appears Kurwenal kills him. He also attacks 8 O Wonne! Freude! 3:14 Tristan wakes and asks his servant where he is and how the King’s retainers but, sustaining a fatal wound, dies (Kurwenal, Tristan) he came there. Kurwenal tells him how he brought him beside his friend, Tristan. The King grieves over the home to Brittany, and hopes for his recovery. deaths; he has travelled to Kareol in order to surrender Scene II 4 Tristan, however, thinks again of the night, while Isolde (whom he also believes to be dead) to Tristan, but 9 O diese Sonne! 3:29 longing for Isolde, in the light of day. now they lie lifeless at his feet. As Isolde wakes, (Tristan, Isolde) 5 Tristan sinks back in weakness, while Kurwenal now Brangäne tells her that she has revealed the truth about promises him that he shall see Isolde again. He tells him the love potion to the King, who forgives his bride. 0 Ich bin’s, ich bin’s 5:33 that she has been summoned to join him, the one who @ It is to no avail and in her mystical farewell, Isolde, (Isolde) can cure him. Tristan praises Kurwenal’s loyalty to him. disregarding all else, wishes only to join Tristan in He deliriously imagines that she is nearby and orders death. Her hope is fulfilled, as she sinks slowly on to her Scene III Kurwenal to find her ship. lover’s body. ! Kurwenal! Hör! 7:18 6 The shepherd’s sad music is again heard, the sign that (A shepherd, Brangäne, Kurwenal) no ship is approaching. Tristan recalls its theme from his Keith Anderson sorrowful childhood when he was orphaned, and in his @ Mild und leise wie er lächelt 6:45 (Isolde, Melot, Marke)

8.660152-54 4 9 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 8

had prevented him from meeting her earlier demand. Brangäne’s concern that the hunt is still within hearing; Richard Wagner (1813-1883) She tells him that she recognised his disguise but that she warns Isolde that she should beware of Melot, a Tristan und Isolde now she truly will take revenge for the death of Morold, treacherous friend of Tristan, who has organized the her betrothed. King’s night-time expedition as a ploy to catch the Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig in 1813, the aroused, the constant attention of creditors and his lovers unawares. Isolde dismisses Brangäne’s warning acknowledged son of a Government official Carl selfish unscrupulousness in his relations with women CD 2 and orders her to extinguish the lighted torch, which will Friedrich Wagner, and his wife Joanna, but possibly and with benefactors. The protection later afforded by be the signal for Tristan to join her in the garden. fathered in fact by the actor Ludwig Geyer, who was to King Ludwig II of Bavaria allowed some respite from 1 Isolde refuses Tristan’s offer of his sword with which Brangäne refuses and rues the outcome of her earlier marry Johanna in August 1814, nine months after Carl difficulties, but his liaison with Liszt’s daughter Cosima, to kill him, an action that could hardly endear her to deception in substituting potion for poison. Isolde, Friedrich’s death. Wagner’s education was an wife of the Bavarian court conductor Hans von Bülow, King Marke. aware of nothing but the power of love, herself intermittent one, much of it in Dresden, where he fell and his unpopularity in Munich led to a further period of 2 She signals to Brangäne to prepare the secret draught extinguishes the torch, awaits Tristan’s arrival and sends under the spell of Weber and Der Freischütz, the first exile in Switzerland. His final relative triumph in the of poison. The shouts of the crew are heard, as she Brangäne to keep watch for the return of the hunt. great German romantic opera. Returning to Leipzig he establishment of a Festival devoted to his work in assures Tristan that they are near their goal. Brangäne was to profit more from contact with his uncle Adolf, a Bayreuth was accomplished again with the brings the cup, and Isolde ironically suggests what may Scene 2 widely read scholar, with a knowledge of Greek tragedy, encouragement of King Ludwig. The first festival took be said to King Marke of Tristan’s actions. 7 As Isolde listens and eagerly looks for her lover’s as well as of the classics of Italy, the works of place in 1876, but did nothing to reduce his increasing 3 The shouts of the crew are heard once more. Tristan approach, Tristan appears, hastening to her, and the Shakespeare, and of course, of the literature of his own personal debts. seizes the cup and drinks. Isolde snatches it from him lovers greet each other, sharing their feelings in praise country. In Leipzig Wagner took the opportunity of Wagner died during the course of a visit to Venice in and empties it herself, drinking to her betrayer. of the night, enemy of the day. furthering his own interests in music, stimulated by the 1883. In his life-time he had inspired equally fanatical Unknown to either of them, Brangäne has prepared a 8 Tristan kneels by Isolde’s side, as they sing together performances of the famous Gewandhaus Orchestra and devotion and hatred, both of which continued after his love potion instead of a poison: before long it takes of the night of love. Beethoven’s opera Fidelio, which he heard in 1829. He death. His principal achievement must be seen in the potent effect and Tristan and Isolde declare their 9 Their ardent expressions of love are interrupted only borrowed books from the music lending library of creation of massive and stupendous masterpieces for the passionate love. by Brangäne’s admonition as she keeps vigil in a nearby Robert Schumann’s future teacher and father-in-law, theatre, such as his German epic cycle The Ring of the 4 Brangäne watches, appalled at the result of her tower. Friedrich Wieck, and took private music lessons at the Nibelungen, and his expansion of traditional harmonic deceit, as the sailors acclaim King Marke. Tristan and 0 Emotions intensify, as they sing of their love, Thomasschule, where J.S. Bach had been employed a and constructional devices in music. Isolde sing of their new love, engrossed one in the other. threatened by day and death. century earlier. In the drama Tristan und Isolde, Wagner transforms Kurwenal’s entry brings them both suddenly back to ! Their love is called Tristan and Isolde, to be united The later career of Wagner was a turbulent one. His an early legend recounted in the work of the medieval reality, and they begin to understand what the potion has for ever, even by death. Brangäne is again heard briefly. income never matched his ambitions, and he was driven poet Gottfried von Strassburg, derived from Le roman done, while the crowd acclaims King Marke and his @ The duet continues, rising unrestrainedly towards an on by an aggressive and ruthless urge to create a new de la rose. Wagner’s work reflects something of his own domain of Cornwall. ecstatic climax, as they praise endless night, the night of form of music, the music of the future, particularly in the life. In Switzerland, where he had settled in 1849, now love. conjunction of all arts in a series of great music dramas. exiled from Germany, he had met, in 1852, the merchant Act II He worked first as conductor at the undistinguished Otto Wesendonck and the latter’s wife, Mathilde. A summer night in King Marke’s castle in Cornwall. Scene 3 opera-house in Magdeburg, married a singer, Minna Wesendonck was of material assistance to Wagner, who # A horrified scream is heard from the maid, as Planer, moved to Königsberg and later to Riga. From had often to call on others for financial support, and in 5 A short prelude brings music associated with day, Kurwenal runs in with drawn sword, telling Tristan to there, pursued by creditors, he sailed for England, and 1857 made available to him a house in the grounds of the Isolde’s impatience, and her ardour. save himself. The King, Melot and their friends rush in thence, a week later to Paris, where success continued to new Wesendonck villa on the outskirts of Zurich. A to surprise the lovers. Tristan seeks to shield Isolde from elude him. Recognition was finally to come from his relationship had developed between Wagner and Scene 1 their gaze, staring at the men, as day starts to dawn. native Saxony, with the production of his opera Rienzi in Mathilde Wesendonck, a liaison that Wagner found 6 King Marke’s garden is revealed. There are steps Melot tells the King that his suspicions were justified, Dresden and an official appointment to the royal court. himself increasingly obliged to explain and justify, rising to Isolde’s chamber, by the door of which a torch but King Marke questions Tristan, reproaching him for His own tactless espousal of revolutionary notions led to particularly when his wife Minna intercepted a letter that burns. The King has just left on a hunting expedition this betrayal of trust. his flight from Saxony in 1849, at first to Liszt in her husband was sending to Mathilde, couched in the and hunting-horns are heard in the distance. Isolde $ Tristan replies obliquely that he no longer feels Weimar, and then to Switzerland. Further troubles were warmest terms, together with a pencil draft of the listens to the sounds of the night, oblivious to himself to be a creature of this world and invites Isolde to follow as the result of the political suspicions he had Prelude to the new drama. Wagner had already given

8.660152-54 8 5 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 6

Mathilde his newly completed poem Tristan und Isolde, The first performance of Tristan und Isolde, Synopsis attend her mistress, which he declines to do, refusing to received ecstatically. Minna reacted to the letter with conducted by Hans von Bülow, had a varied reception. leave his post, as he guides the ship towards Cornwall, anger and confronted Mathilde Wesendonck, whose While some greeted it with the greatest enthusiasm, CD 1 King Marke’s realm. A repeated request is also rejected, husband Otto was already aware and patiently tolerant others found the work objectionable or unintelligible. this time by Kurwenal, who scornfully relates how of the liaison between his young wife and a composer Nevertheless the chromatic harmonies that characterize Act I Tristan killed Morold, the man to whom Isolde was whom he greatly admired and continued to support. the score, heard in the famous ‘Tristan chord’ in the At sea, on the deck of Tristan’s ship, sailing from previously betrothed, paying tribute with his sword. Minna’s action made it impossible, Wagner thought, to second bar of the Prelude and at later points in the Ireland to Cornwall. Kurwenal goes below, as Tristan shows his disapproval, remain at the garden house that he had called the Asyl. drama, claimed as a key influence in future musical while the sailors echo Kurwenal’s mockery of Isolde. Minna was despatched to Brestenberg to take a cure, development, have their precedent in a number of earlier 1 An extended prelude introduces a number of while Wagner left what he had called the Green Hill, composers. Indeed the rising chromatic phrase of the significant motifs which will be heard again during the Scene 3 moving first, in August 1858, to Venice, continuing second and third bar of the Prelude has its own possible drama. 5 Incensed by Kurwenal’s response, Isolde tells work on the music of his new drama, but finding the immediate source, it has been said, in Hans von Bülow’s Brangäne, alone in their quarters, how she recognised necessary conditions for the completion of the score in opera Nirwana. The score makes use of leitmotifs, Scene 1 Tristan when he came to her in disguise and sought help, Lucerne the following year. Tristan und Isolde was not phrases or figures associated with elements of the 2 The scene shows a tent-like chamber on the foredeck wounded, after the murder of Morold. She wanted to kill performed until 1865 in Munich, where King Ludwig II, drama, that are often more abstract in their reference of Tristan’s ship. It is hung with rich tapestries. Isolde is him then but, restrained by his mysterious gaze, finally the nineteen-year-old King of Bavaria, had tried to than the distinctly concrete associations found in some seen on a couch, her face buried in cushions, while her spared his life, curing him. Now she wishes she had install Wagner. In April of the same year, two months earlier works. The music, in fact, is imbued with a sense confidante Brangäne holds open a curtain, looking over been more courageous, curses him and determines to before the première, Cosima, the younger daughter of of yearning, of love, of whatever kind, to be found the side of the ship. A sailor sings a plaintive song about avenge Morold’s death with poison. Liszt, and wife of the pianist and conductor Hans von ultimately in death. 6 Brangäne too was deceived. Isolde recalls how Bülow, who had spent part of their 1857 honeymoon Tristan had promised gratitude, but then returned, in his with the Wagners, gave birth to the first of her children Keith Anderson a forsaken lover, hearing which Isolde is angry at what true guise, to claim her as bride for King Marke. She by Wagner, Isolde. she takes as mockery. She asks Brangäne where they curses his treachery. are, and is told that they are approaching Cornwall. 7 Brangäne tries to comfort her, arguing that Tristan is Isolde bursts into a rebellious tirade against the bringing honour to Isolde by his action. weakness of her own people who have been overcome 8 She asks whether Isolde does not know the magic arts by their enemies. She prays that the ship founder. of her mother. The latter calls for her casket, which Brangäne tries to comfort her. Isolde bids her open the Brangäne brings her, taking out a phial, which Isolde curtains. has marked, not a love potion but poison. The cries of the sailors are heard, as the ship nears land. Scene 2 3 The ship and the sailors are seen, with knights and Scene 4 squires on the stern-deck. Tristan stands apart, with his 9 Kurwenal calls on the women to make ready. Isolde companion Kurwenal reposing at his feet. The sailor’s recoils in horror, then demands to speak to Tristan under song is heard again. Isolde asks Brangäne what she the pretext of pardoning his crime, refusing otherwise to thinks of the knight Tristan, dedicated to death, looking go with him. She bids Brangäne farewell, telling her to away in shame and fear. For Brangäne he is a great hero, bring the draught prepared from the phial, so that she but Isolde despises him, as he brings a bride, like a may wreak vengeance on Tristan. Brangäne corpse, won for his master. She tells Brangäne to bid remonstrates with her, horrified at Isolde’s plan. At this Tristan approach, to kneel before her, his queen. Isolde point Kurwenal announces the approach of Tristan. watches her approach Tristan. Scene 5 4 Kurwenal warns him of her approach. She asks him to 0 Tristan finally joins Isolde, claiming that his honour

8.660152-54 6 7 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 6

8.660152-54 6 7 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 8

8.660152-54 8 5 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 4

8.660152-54 4 9 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 10

Martina Dike CD 1 63:41 CD 2 78:25

8.660152-54 10 3 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 2

8.660152-54 2 11 8.660152-54 660152-54 bk Tristan US 24/05/2005 09:59am Page 12

The Royal Swedish Opera

Leif Segerstam

8.660152-54 12 660152-54 rr Tristan US 24/05/2005 10:00am Page 1

CMYK N N

AXOS With its plot derived from Arthurian legend, Tristan und Isolde is considered by many to AXOS be the most harmonically daring and overtly sensual of the composer’s operas. From the famous opening ‘Tristan chord’ of the Prelude, repeated at key points in the drama, to its over-powering harmonic resolution at the end of the Liebestod (Love-Death), the opera is DDD

W remarkable for the hypnotic power, physical longing and intense human emotion sustained • Lundberg Millgramm • Forsén Fassbender

AGNER: over more than three hours. 8.660152-54

Richard Playing Time WAGNER 3:32:12 (1813-1883) T

ristan und Isolde Tristan und Isolde A Music-Drama in Three Acts CD 1 63:41 1-0 Act One 63:41 CD 2 78:25 1-4 Act One (concluded) 17:11 www.naxos.com Made in Canada Booklet notes and synopsis in English h 5-% Act Two 61:14 Naxos Rights International Ltd. &

CD 3 70:07 g 1-@ Act Three 70:07 2005 Millgramm • Forsén • Fassbender • Lundberg • Kyhle • Dike Royal Swedish Opera Male Chorus and Orchestra Leif Segerstam The German libretto and an English translation can be found online at www.naxos.com/libretti/tristan.htm Recorded at the Konserthuset, Stockholm, from 14th to 19th June, 2004 8.660152-54 Producer and Editor: Peter Newble (K&A Productions Ltd.) 8.660152-54 Engineer: Andrew Lang (K&A Productions Ltd.) • Recorded and edited at 24-bit resolution Cover Picture: Set design for opera Tristan und Isolde by Max Bruckner (1896-1938) (The Art Archive / Richard Wagner Museum Bayreuth / Dagli Orti)