Nikolaus Harnoncourt once claimed that he would prefer to conduct nine operettas by Offenbach to a single opera by Wagner, but he abandoned this principle in 1999, when he made his début as a Wagner conductor at that year's Styriarte festival. The memorable concert featured works by Wagner alongside music by two of Wagner's contemporaries: Mendelssohn and Schumann. Together these works were Harnoncourt's own personal commentary on the theme of that year's festival, "Love". This exceptional audio recording is being released on CD for the first time.

1. MENDELSSOHN Das Märchen von der schönen Melusine

2. Commentary by Harnoncourt

WAGNER Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg

3. Overture - Venusberg Music

4. Commentary by Harnoncourt

WAGNER Tristan und Isolde

5-6. Prelude to Act I - Liebestod: "Mild und leise wie er lächelt"

7. SCHUMANN Requiem für Mignon

8. BONUS Commentary by Harnoncourt on Mendelssohn's

Melusine Concert Overture plus complete performance