WAGNER: “ “Parsifal” Prelude, “Eine Faust-Ouverture,” “Columbus-Ouverture,”...

WAGNER: “ “Parsifal” Prelude, “Eine Faust-Ouverture,” “Columbus-Ouverture,” “Die Meistersinger” Prelude, Act I Prelude and “Liebestod” from “Tristan und Isolde.” Cheryl Studer, soprano; Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks conducted by Jeffrey Tate. EMI-Angel 49196. Tate spices up the standard Wagner orchestral collection with one rarity and one special cameo appearance. The “Columbus” Overture, the only surviving part of the incidental music written for Theodor Apel’s play in 1834-35, climbs the Weber-Mendelssohn bandwagon with brassy, unconvincing results. Studer rises to the technical challenge of the “Liebestod,” though the American soprano’s unvaryingly bright production is ultimately wearying. Tate conducts the staples at standard tempos with barely a hint of theatricality.