This critical discography of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde opens with an introduction that illustrates the challenges the opera poses to performers. The discography lists all complete recordings, all major selections, and hundreds of individually recorded vocal and instrumental excerpts from 1901 to 1999. Information was researched in major public collections and libraries in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Pirate recordings and fictitious conductors are identified, and an extensive list of arrangements from the opera, ranging from piano to jazz ensemble, and a list of performances on video are included.

This unique discography will appeal to Wagnerian scholars, opera fans, and record collectors. Of special interest is a listing of the timings of complete performances, including some early Bayreuth performances not on disc and more than 200 recordings of the Prelude and arrangements of the Liebestod.