Vinay, Nilsson: Tristan Act 3 (excerpts), 1958
Listen
Music Preserved has two excerpts from Act 3 of the legendary performance of Tristan und Isolde given at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 1958 under the baton of its then Music Director Rafael Kubelík: Tristan’s delirium before Isolde’s return, and Isolde’s Liebestod.
This rare recording captures a seismic moment in mid-century operatic history. Originally scheduled to feature the celebrated Australian soprano Sylvia Fisher as Isolde, a sudden indisposition forced her withdrawal. The management faced the daunting prospect of replacing an Isolde—one of the most vocally punishing roles ever written—at the eleventh hour. The solution came in the form of a young Swedish soprano who was rapidly sending shockwaves through Europe, Birgit Nilsson.
At this point in 1958, Nilsson was on the cusp of true global mythology; her historic Metropolitan Opera debut was still a year away. Stepping onto the stage to replace Fisher, Nilsson delivered a performance of breathtaking assurance. Her voice—infamous for its “laser-like” projection—effortlessly sliced through Wagner’s dense, late-Romantic orchestration. In the concluding Liebestod, listeners can hear the early blossoming of the century’s definitive Wagnerian soprano: a sound marked not just by raw physical power, but by a luminous, silvery brilliance.
Paired with her was the legendary Chilean tenor Ramón Vinay. Originally a baritone, Vinay brought a dark, burnished, and muscular intensity to Tristan. By 1958, his tenor was near the end of its lifespan, which adds a haunting, gravelly realism to Tristan’s painful Act 3 delirium. Together, Vinay’s raw, agonizing desperation and Nilsson’s soaring, radiant triumph create an unforgettable, high-stakes document of live broadcast history. Supporting Tristan through his delirium in this recording Otokar Kraus sings the role of Kurwenal and demonstrates what a valuable member of the Covent Garden Opera he was at this time.
Contents
Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
Tristan und Isolde, Act 3
Track 1: Nur ein Wissen dort uns eigen
Track 2: Mild und leise
This recording is from a relay made from the Royal Opera House on June 12 1958.
The recording is in the Harewood Collection at Music Preserved.
Remastering by Roger Beardsley.
Cast
- Tristan Ramón Vinay
- Kurwenal Otakar Kraus
- Isolde Birgit Nilsson
