Wagner: Tristan und Isolde – Stemme und Storey on BBC Radio 3

As Brünnhilde und Siegfried

We have only a few days left to hear the Tristan und Isolde from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on BBC Radio 3.  The BBC SSO recorded each act separately and this is how the BBC is sharing it with us. The links for each act are below. From what I've read (and heard) so far, Acts 1 and 2 are don't-miss events. There were cast changes over the course of the performances, most notably the title characters are different in Act 3. 

So the news is Nina Stemme's Isolde. She recorded it quite a few years ago, so it's good to hear her current take on it. Tristan is Ian Storey (he'll be singing the role next season at Washington National Opera) and he is news, too. 

Edinburg-based music journalist Kate Molleson admires these two singers (and who wouldn't?) and last fall, she wrote a lovely article about each of them: 

In Praise of Nina Stemme The Essential Isolde (and I wouldn't argue!) 

In Praise of Ian Storey One of the World's Great Wagnerian Tenors

The Broadcasts  

Act 1  (4 days left to listen)

Isolde ..... Nina Stemme (soprano)

Tristan ..... Ian Storey (tenor)

Brangäne ..... Tanja Ariane Baumgartner (mezzo)

Kurwenal ..... Boaz Daniel (baritone)

Young Seaman ..... Nicky Spence (tenor)

Men of the RSNO Chorus,

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,

Conductor Donald Runnicles

Act 2  (5 days left to listen)

Isolde ..... Nina Stemme (soprano)

Tristan ..... Ian Storey (tenor)

Brangäne ..... Jane Irwin (mezzo)

King Mark ..... Peter Rose (bass)

Melot ..... Andrew Rees (tenor)

Kurwenal ..... Mikhail Pavlov (baritone)

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,

Conductor Donald Runnicles

Act 3  (6 days left to listen)

Tristan ... Robert Dean Smith (tenor)

Isolde ... Petra Maria Schnitzer (soprano)

Brangäne ... Jane Irwin (soprano)

Kurwenal ... Markus Eiche (baritone)

King Mark ... Matthew Best (bass)

Melot ... Andrew Rees (tenor)

Helmsman ... Benedict Nelson (baritone)

Shepherd ... Ben Johnson (tenor)

Men of the RSNO Chorus,

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,

Conductor Donald Runnicles