Wagner: Tristan Act 3 'Isolde kommt' (Claude Heater)

Kurvenal, Dan Richardson. In 58 Von Karajan hired Claude for the Vienna Staatsoper as a baritone and took him to La Scala to sing in his Tristan and Isolde with Birgit Nilsson. Claude later sang the same role with Birgit at Bayreuth Festspiel Haus and also debuted at the same time in 1966 as Siegmund to Gwyneth Jones Sieglinde in Wagners Die Walkurie. His first Tristan was in Hannover, Germany where after the grueling 5 hour opera he bowed for another 26 minutes of applause! He prepared the role in Munich and Salzburg under the guidance of Max Lorenz who was the favorite Tristan in Europe while Lauritz Melchoir sang it at the Metropolitan Opera. Visit Claude's website www.claudeheater.com

After his debut as Tristan Claude sang it in eight different productions in one year including The Festival of Two Worlds with Giancarlo Menotti at Spoletto and Trieste, Italy as well as the Lyceo in Barcelona and the Hamburg Opera with Birgit Nilsson followed by the Dresden Opera with Astrid Varnay.

He finished his Boston Otello with Renata Tebaldi and Ramon Vinay as Iago and took a midnight plane to Italy where he had a staged orchestra rehearsal of Tristan in Genoa the next day. Both his Bayreuth and La Scala debuts came in 1966 as Siegmund with Gwyneth Jones and Erik with Leonie Rysanek.

He had five seasons at Barcelonas Lyceo singing Tristan, Tannhauser, Siegmund, Siegfried that he staged as well. Montserrat Caballe stepped in for an ailing Anja Silja to sing the Elizabeth as a favor to Claude who sang with her in her first Tosca, first Nedda in Pagliacci and Marta in Tiefland in Basel, Switzerland, a role also sung by Maria Callas

This is the first full length film Claude has done since the 1958 Academy Award film Ben Hur where William Wyler cast him in the role of The Christ. Charlton Heston spoke highly of his performance in his book An Actors Life. Chuck and Claude appeared together in 2003 at the Academy of Arts in Los Angeles in Ben Hur's last showing as the last two remaining actors in the film. See Youtube's Ben Hur meets Jesus. The role of Jesus had special meaning for Claude having been a former Mormon Missionary.

Mormons worship a Jesus Christ but it is not the Bible Jesus who forgave all and while dying on the cross, said to the thief in Luke 23:43 Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Mark 8:12 says so likewise shall the Son of man be buried [three days] in the bowels of the earth. In contrast, Joseph Smiths Jesus Christ called by the same name and title, left the cross to personally slaughter hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children in North and South America during the 3 days before resurrection. At least that is what Smith says in his Book of Mormon. See 3 Nephi Chapters 8-9 and 9:15! (Read also 'Fatal flaws of The Most Correct Book on Earth' by Claude Heater. Amazon.com)

Category:

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• website:
• www.claudeheater.com

[1401JSC]

I can't thank you enough for allowing me to discover this fabulous Tristan. I'd never heard of Heater, although I believe he is still alive.

[tantris3]

@1401JSC Thank you! I can assure you that I am still alive but not as alive as I was when I sang and made the film. Still teaching some talented singers.

[JSJ1121]

I agree with evstreet. He is very convincing Tristan with sensitivity, dramatic acting with the real Helden Tenor voice.

What a great performance it is. He draws you into this great tragic drama. Great Performance!

[tantris3]

Claude is still looking for motivated musical young singers to carry on in this tradition. Such voices can be built.

[1401JSC]

@tantris3

Built at what age?

To have a lasting career?

[tantris3]

@1401JSC Built at any age if you are in physically good health. But if you are not musical it is a waste to make beautiful sounds calling hogs.

[4444marla]

Amazing sing by the Tristan of all Tristans, Claude Heater.

[tenorschofield]

He must be one of the best Tristan's ever!!!; his voice is so solid and balanced...he is a very talented "Heldentenor"!!!. Also he has the perfect look for the role!!! Wunderbar Tenor!!!!

[jezikon]

I am in love with Heather, he has it all, this is the best Tristan experiance for me so far. I am desperate to get the full recording. Please post the rest of the movie, from the start to the end, this treasure must be shared. 

[tantris3]

It is hard to disagree with that comment!

[dutchbaritone08]

ja, wij hebben ook contact met elkaar - zijn vriendin, ju yeon song zingt wagner sopraan -

ze zingt fantastisch goed.