Wagner’s ‘Tristan Und Isolde’ returns in long-awaited revival at the Tokyo Theater

The critically acclaimed production of Richard Wagner’s ‘Tristan und Isolde’, which premiered in 2010, has finally been revived at the New National Theatre, Tokyo (NNTT) in Hatsudai, Tokyo.

The six performances for the 2023/2024 season opened on March 14 under the direction of Kazushi Ono, the theater’s artistic director.

The story begins aboard a ship to Cornwall, England. Isolde, the princess of Ireland, and the knight Tristan unknowingly take a love potion and fall desperately in love with each other. But their love is doomed when Isolde becomes the bride of Tristan’s uncle, King Marke of Cornwall.

The epic story of the two ill-fated lovers is considered the pinnacle of Wagner’s operas, which the German composer called musical theater. The irresistibly seductive music is a milestone in music history due to the introduction of the so-called Tristan chords and the extensive use of chromatic harmony.

Director David McwVicar used no gimmicks, but told the story honestly with a sensible arrangement of the characters. The stage was graced with set and costume designer Robert Jones’ simple yet inspiring set, beautifully lit by lighting designer Paule Constable.

Ono, who conducted the production in 2010, wanted to revive it when he took up the position of NNTT’s artistic director of opera in 2016.

The conductor brought out clear and rich sounds from the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, with which he has a long, successful collaboration.

The production had to overcome setbacks prior to the premiere: both singers originally cast for the two title roles had to withdraw due to illness or personal reasons. Latvian soprano Liene Kinca, who sang Elisabeth in Wagner’s “Tannhauser” at the NNTT in 2019, filled in as Isolde for Eva-Maria Westbroek who withdrew in November for personal reasons, while Hungarian tenor Zoltan Nyari took the place of Torsten Kerl , who had to withdraw due to illness, for the role of Tristan less than a month before the first night and just in time for rehearsals. Kinca’s emotionally charged vocals and Nyari’s youthful sounding voice were perfect for young, fiery lovers.

They received great support from other singers in the leading roles, most notably mezzo-soprano Mihoko Fujimura as Isolde’s faithful lady-in-waiting Brangane; baritone Egils Silins as Tristan’s loyal servant Kurwenal; and bass Wilhelm Schwinghammer as the benevolent King Marke. Particularly notable was Fujimura, one of Wagner’s most important mezzo-sopranos today.

The final performance of “Tristan und Isolde” will take place at the New National Theater, Tokyo, in Hatsudai, Tokyo on Friday at 2 p.m.

Visit https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/english/opera/For more information.