Art.Nr.: NO-H0001 EAN: 4011254200012

Release date: May 2026

With this remastered edition of Richard Wagners „Tristan und Isolde“ from Bayreuth 1952 starts Note One Music with its new series Note One Heritage, which makes important historical recordings from music history accessible again. The legendary performance of 23. Juli 1952 at the Bayreuth Festival Theatre is considered one of the most striking documents of the early post-war years and the artistic renewal of the festival in the era of the so-called ‘New Bayreuth’.

At the conductor's podium stands Herbert von Karajan, whose conducting steadily intensifies the dramatic tension of the score, ultimately culminating in an almost ethereal Liebestod. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary pair of singers: Martha Mödl, one of the dominant, highly dramatic voices of her time, and Ramón Vinay, whose powerful, passionate Tristan ranks among the greatest interpretations of this role.

Their encounter brings together two contrasting temperaments to create an electrifying musical drama – ranging from eruptive passion to meditative introspection. The cast is complemented by outstanding Bayreuth forces such as Hans Hotter as Kurwenal, Ludwig Weber as King Marke and Ira Malaniuk as Brangäne.

The recording of the Bayerischen Rundfunks – lange Zeit vergriffen und nun klanglich neu remastered – offenbart die Atmosphäre einer Aufführung, deren Intensität und Unmittelbarkeit schon damals als außergewöhnlich gefeiert wurde. Als erste Veröffentlichung der Reihe Note One Heritage this edition invites you to rediscover a remarkable performance in the history of opera and the Bayreuth Festival.

Review at operalounge.de “a more than justified” reissue that “sounds fresher and even more vibrant”