The Inside Story: Robert Reimer and TRISTAN UND ISOLDE

The Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra stuns with a new recording of Richard Wagner’s three-act opera TRISTAN UND ISOLDE. Skillfully conducted by German conductor Robert Reimer, this new, vibrant performance is likely to claim its place as one of the reference recordings of Wagner’s innovative work.

Today, Robert is our featured artist in “The Inside Story,” a blog series exploring the inner workings and personalities of our composers and performers. Read on to discover Reimer’s favorite moment in the opera…

Who was your first favorite artist(s) growing up?

That was Herbert von Karajan. My parents gave me his recording of all Beethoven Symphonies for Christmas.

When did you realize that you wanted to be an artist?

I was already playing piano from an early age and was going to concerts with my father to see the local orchestra. I was always impressed by that man standing in front of the orchestra. I felt that I wanted to do that also.

If you could instantly have expertise performing one instrument, what instrument would that be?

It would be the violin – definitely!

What was your favorite musical moment on the album?

Difficult to choose, there are many of them. But I love the start of the third act with its special and remote atmosphere. Tristan badly wounded – his good friend Kurwenal at his side – not really here but yet not gone.

What does this album mean to you personally?

It means a lot to me! Bringing all these different artists together to perform one of the most difficult pieces in opera history in such a short period has been an extraordinary experience.

Is there a specific feeling that you would like communicated to audiences in this work?

This masterpiece is about love and  forgiveness – our deepest and most human characteristics!