LA PHILHARMONIC’S 'TRISTAN PROJECT' RETURNS TO THE WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL

Friday, 16 March 2007 00:27

"Tristan und Isolde is a tale of a love so overwhelming and intense it transcends mortal bounds. This project represents an exciting opportunity to collaborate with fellow artists Peter Sellars and Esa-Pekka Salonen, to explore and draw fresh inspiration from both the story and the great creative work of Richard Wagner, and to re-tell this medieval myth of timeless significance and universal relevance," Bill Viola says.

Tristan und Isolde has long proven to be a test of a musician's mettle and a favorite of conductors. Salonen comments: "Since my early 20's, Tristan has been on the list of operas I wanted to conduct. When one decides to take on an iconic piece of the repertoire, it's more fascinating - in my opinion - to put it into a new context and to illuminate it from various angles. I'm looking forward to collaborating with Peter again, and am very eager to work with the interpretations Bill Viola brings to the project."Many composers have viewed Richard Wagner's oeuvre as highly influential to their artistic growth. Richard Strauss once wrote: "Tristan und Isolde marked the end of all romanticism. Here the yearning of the entire 19th century is gathered in one focal point." The works paired with each act - Berg's Lyric Suite, Debussy's Suite from Pelleas and Melisande and Kaija Saariaho's Cinq reflets - illustrate the great influence Wagner has had on other composers. In his Lyric Suite, Berg was highly influenced by the story line of the doomed lovers, a story line which played in his own life as well. Debussy and Saariaho also demonstrate touches of Tristan and the impressions it has made in the Suite from Pelleas and Melisande and Saariaho's new work.

Vocal soloists for Tristan include soprano Christine Brewer as Isolde; tenor Clifton Forbis, in his Philharmonic debut, as Tristan; mezzo-soprano Jill Grove, as Brangäne; bass Stephen Milling, in his debut, as King Mark; bass-baritone Alan Held as Kurwenal; tenor Michael Slattery as Sailor's Voice/A Shepherd; and tenor Thomas Studebaker, also making Philharmonic debut, as Melot. Soprano Heidi Grant Murphy and bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen perform in Saariaho's work.

BACKGROUND ON TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
Considered in its time one of the most complex operas ever written, Tristan und Isolde is an operatic masterpiece. Wagner's earliest sketches for the opera date from December of 1856. He completed the prose poem for the opera in 1857 and completed the composition of the music between 1857 and 1859. After moving to Paris in 1859, Wagner attempted to secure a theater for the opera's world premiere. No opera house in Paris wanted to take it on. Finally the Dresden Opera, impressed by the work's seemingly simple requirements (very little chorus, few principals, and three acts), decided to hold the premiere. After 77 rehearsals, the work was declared unperformable and was abandoned by the company.

The opera finally had its premiere at the Munich Royal Court Theater in 1865 with an orchestra so large that seats in the front were removed to accommodate all of the of musicians required. While the first audience was scandalized by the opera's erotic nature, Tristan has become one of the most influential works in Western musical literature.